Original contributionShort interfering RNA targeting Net1 reduces the angiogenesis and tumor growth of in vivo cervical squamous cell carcinoma through VEGF down-regulation

- Net1 is overexpressed in squamous cell carcinoma and associated with the cancer angiogenesis.
- Net1 siRNA impairs the angiogenesis-inducing ability of cervical squamous carcinoma cells.
- Net1 siRNA down-regulates the VEGF expression level of cervical squamous carcinoma cells.
- Net1 knockdown reduces the angiogenesis and tumor growth of cervical squamous carcinoma in vivo.

SummaryNet1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is implicated in cancer cell invasion through activation of RhoA. However, there is still no report on the association between Net1 and cancer angiogenesis. The current study was designed to explore the role of Net1 in the angiogenesis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and further observe the effects of Net1 short interfering RNA (siRNA) on the tumor growth. Net1 was overexpressed in CSCC samples (n = 80), correlated with the cancer microvessel density (r = 0.223, P = .026), and related to aggressive clinical behaviors, including depth of cervical wall invasion (P = .041), parametrial involvement (P = .037), lymph node metastasis (P = .021), and vascular invasion (P = .018). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells treated with supernatant of SiHa cells with Net1 siRNA showed significantly decreased proliferation (0.75 ± 0.038 versus 1.0 ± 0.015, P < .001), migration (39.3 ± 6.5 versus 66.0 ± 10.1, P = .019), and tube formation (13.5 ± 3.05 versus 21.7 ± 2.89, P = .030) compared with those human umbilical vein endothelial cells treated with normal SiHa cells supernatant. Net1 siRNA of SiHa decreased VEGF expression level (0.60 ± 0.026 versus 0.78 ± 0.031, P = .02). Furthermore, Net1 siRNA significantly reduced tumor growth (P = .037) and microvessel density (5.8 ± 0.43 versus 3.4 ± 0.55, P = .012) and decreased the expression level of VEGF (0.31 ± 0.002 versus 0.39 ± 0.004, P < .001) in CSCC. In conclusion, Net1 promotes the angiogenesis of CSCC, and siRNA targeting Net1 can effectively reduce the angiogenesis and thus inhibit the tumor growth of CSCC in vivo.