Analysis of the levels of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) mRNA in human ovarian tumors and the effects of chemical LSD1 inhibitors in ovarian cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND: Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1, also known as KDM1A and AOF2) is a chromatin-modifying activity that catalyzes the removal of methyl groups from lysine residues in histone and non-histone proteins, regulating gene transcription. LSD1 is overexpressed in several cancer types, and chemical inhibition of the LSD1 activity has been proposed as a candidate cancer therapy. Here, we examine the levels of LSD1 mRNA in human ovarian tumors and the cytotoxicity of several chemical LSD1 inhibitors in a panel of ovarian cancer cell lines. METHODS: We measured LSD1 mRNA levels in a cohort of n = 177 normal and heterogeneous tumor specimens by quantitative real time-PCR (qRT-PCR). Tumors were classified by FIGO stage, FIGO grade, and histological subtypes. We tested the robustness of our analyses in an independent cohort of n = 573 serous tumor specimens (source: TCGA, based on microarray). Statistical analyses were based on Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn’s and Mann Whitney tests. Changes in LSD1 mRNA levels were also correlated with transcriptomic alterations at genome-wide scale. Effects on cell viability (MTS/PMS assay) of six LSD1 inhibitors (pargyline, TCP, RN-1, S2101, CAS 927019-63-4, and CBB1007) were also evaluated in a panel of ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3, OVCAR3, A2780 and cisplatin-resistant A2780cis). RESULTS: We found moderate but consistent LSD1 mRNA overexpression in stage IIIC and high-grade ovarian tumors. LSD1 mRNA overexpression correlated with a transcriptomic signature of up-regulated genes involved in cell cycle and down-regulated genes involved in the immune/inflammatory response, a signature previously observed in aggressive tumors. In fact, some ovarian tumors showing high levels of LSD1 mRNA are associated with poor patient survival. Chemical LSD1 inhibition induced cytotoxicity in ovarian cancer lines, which roughly correlated with their reported LSD1 inhibitory potential (RN-1,S2101 >> pargyline,TCP). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings may suggest a role of LSD1 in the biology of some ovarian tumors. It is of special interest to find a correlation of LSD1 mRNA overexpression with a transcriptomic signature relevant to cancer. Our findings, therefore, prompt further investigation of the role of LSD1 in ovarian cancer, as well as the study of its enzymatic inhibition in animal models for potential therapeutic purposes in the context of this disease.