Recombinant Slit2 Requires Heparin Sulphate to Inhibit TGF-ß Induced Tumor Proliferation in Lung Cancer and Glioblastoma.

Slit and roundabout homologs have emerged as important players in signaling cascades of tumor metastasis. In previous reports it is stated that the interactions between Slit2 and Robo1 are facilitated by heparan sulphate that is abundantly expressed on cell surface and extracellular matrix. Slit2 reduces tumor proliferation in lung cancer and glioblastoma cells whereas TGF-ß is a well-described tumor inducer. The present study was aimed at deciphering the role of heparan sulphate in Slit2 mediated inhibition of cancer metastasis. Cancer proliferation was induced by TGF-ß in lung cancer cells (H1650) and glioblastoma cells (SF767) and then the anti-proliferative role of Slit2 was analyzed in presence and absence of heparan sulfate. The data revealed that, heparan sulfate plays important role in enhancing tumor inhibition by Slit2 in cancer cells as there was further reduction in cell proliferation when Slit2 was administered along with heparin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]