Effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist on ES-2 ovarian cancer cells

ObjectiveGonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor is found in the ovarian tissue, including epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), suggesting that GnRH agonists may have direct action on EOC.Materials and methodsOvarian clear cell cancer (ES-2) cells were treated with low-dose GnRH agonist with/without low-dose paclitaxel (1 μM D-Lys6 with/without 0.5 μM or 1.0 μM paclitaxel). Growth and behavior of ES-2 cells were evaluated.ResultsUse of either D-Lys6 or paclitaxel or a combination of the two did not affect the morphology and growth pattern of ES-2 cells. However, ability of migration and invasion of ES-2 cells was significantly decreased in either use of D-Lys6 or paclitaxel and more apparent with the combination. Type I GnRH receptor expression of ES-2 was not altered significantly by the combination.ConclusionGnRH agonist might modify the ES-2 ovarian cancer cells, and its role might be independent, additional or synergistic, suggesting the potential role of the use of GnRH agonist in the management of clear cell type of the ovarian cancer. However, the results of this study were derived using ES-2 ovarian cancer cells, and might not be valid in other cell types of ovarian cancers.