Biologic effects of antisense hTERT expressing vector on human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3

Objective: To study the effects of antisense hTERT expressing vector on biologic behavior of human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3.Methods: Recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3 AS hTERT with full length hTERT antisense cDNA and vector pcDNA3 were introduced into SKOV3 which highly expressed hTERT by lipofectamine mediated gene transfection. hTERT gene expression,telomerase activity,rates of cell growth and tumorogenesis in nude mice were compared before and after SKOV3 being transfected. Results: The transformant cells showed retardation of cell proliferation,growth and partial reversion of the malignant phenotype,including decrease of hTERT gene expression ?telomerase activity and rates of cell growth,and also the ability of soft agar colony formation tumorogenesis in nude mice. Conclusion: Down regulation of hTERT can effectively decrease telomerase activity and partially reverse malignant phenotype in SKOV3.hTERT may be a new and potent target of gene therapy in ovarian cancer.