PTPRK Expression Is Downregulated in Drug Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines, and Especially in ALDH1A1 Positive CSCs-Like Populations
Background: Ovarian cancer is the 7th most common cancer and 8th most mortal canceramong woman. The standard treatment includes cytoreduction surgery followed bychemotherapy. Unfortunately, in most cases, after treatment, cancer develops drug resistance.Decreased expression and/or activity of protein phosphatases leads to increased signaltransduction and development of drug resistance in cancer cells. Methods: Using sensitive (W1,A2780) and resistant ovarian cancer cell lines, the expression of Protein Tyrosine PhosphataseReceptor Type K (PTPRK) was performed at the mRNA (real‐time PCR analysis) and protein level(Western blot, immunofluorescence analysis). The protein expression in ovarian cancer tissues wasdetermined by immunohistochemistry. Results: The results showed a decreased level of PTPRKexpression in ovarian cancer cell lines resistant to cisplatin (CIS), paclitaxel (PAC), doxorubicin(DOX), topotecan (TOP), vincristine (VIN) and methotrexate (MTX). Additionally, the lowerPTPRK expression was observed in Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family Member A1 (ALDH1A1)positive cancer stem cells (CSCs) population, suggesting the role of PTPRK downregulation inprimary as well as acquired resistance to cytotoxic drugs. Conclusions: These results provideimportant insights into the role of PTPRK in mechanism leading to drug resistance in ovariancancer and has raised important questions about the role of imbalance in processes ofphosphorylation and dephosphorylation.