Direct growth-inhibitory effects of prostaglandin E2 in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro through an EP4/PKA-mediated mechanism.

Background: There is strong evidence linking inflammation and the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and COX-2-derived PGE are overexpressed in human and murine pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Several studies have demonstrated an important role of COX-2-derived PGE in tumor-stroma interactions; however, the direct growth effects of prostaglandin E (PGE) on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells is less well defined. Our aim was to investigate the effects of PGE on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell growth and to characterize the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines, Panc-1 and MIA PaCa-2, were treated with PGE in varying doses (0-10 μM). Effects on the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 were evaluated by Western blot. Colony formation was observed for cells treated with PGE for 11 days. DNA synthesis was determined by (3H)-thymidine incorporation assay. Gene expression of E-type prostaglandin (EP)2/EP4 receptors and their correlation with survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were assessed using the RNA-Seq data set from The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network.

Results: PGE decreased the size and number of colonies in Panc-1 but not MIA PaCa-2 cells. In the Panc-1 cells, PGE activated PKA/CREB and decreased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, which was reversed by an EP4 receptor antagonist, while an EP2 receptor antagonist had no effect. In contrast, in MIA PaCa-2 cells, PGE had no effect on ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Treatment of both Panc-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells with forskolin/IBMX decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Finally, PGE decreased DNA synthesis only in Panc-1 cells, which was reversed by an EP4 receptor antagonist. In human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, high EP2 and low EP4 gene expression was correlated to worse median overall survival (15.6 vs 20.8 months, log-rank P = .017).

Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that PGE can inhibit directly pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell growth through an EP4-mediated mechanism. Together with our gene expression and survival analysis, this observation suggests a protective role of EP4 receptors in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma that expresses E-type prostaglandin receptors.