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Cell proliferation of human ovarian cancer is regulated by the opioid growth factor-opioid growth factor receptor axis.

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecological malignancies. Understanding the biology of these tumors, as well as treatment modalities, has been challenging. The opioid growth factor (OGF; [Met(5)]-enkephalin) and the OGF receptor (OGFr) form an endogenous growth-regulating pathway in homeostasis and neoplasia. In this investigation, we examined the relationship of the OGF-OGFr axis to ovarian cancer, and defined its presence, function, and mechanisms. Using OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cell lines, we found that OGF and OGFr were present and functional. Exogenous OGF was observed to have a dose-dependent, serum-independent, reversible, and receptor-mediated inhibitory action on cell proliferation that was dependent on RNA and protein synthesis. The repressive effect of OGF on cell proliferation also was observed in SW626, CAOV-3, and HEY ovarian cancer cell lines. Endogenous OGF was found to be constitutively produced and tonically active on cell replicative activities, with neutralization of this peptide accelerating cell proliferation. Silencing of OGFr using siRNA technology stimulated cell replication, documenting its integral role. The mechanism of OGF-OGFr action on DNA synthesis was related to the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitory pathway because knockdown of p16 or p21 in OVCAR-3 cells, and p21 in SKOV-3 cells, eliminated OGF's inhibitory effect on growth. These data are the first to report that the OGF-OGFr system is a native biological regulator of cell proliferation in human ovarian cancer. This information will be important in designing treatment strategies for this deadly disease.