Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Choriocarcinoma is characterized by aggressive growth and metastasis, and integrins and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) play crucial roles in its progression. ATRA (All-trans retinoic acid) has been shown to have anti-tumor effects in various cancers, poses a 15-20% malignancy risk. This study investigates the effects ATRA on MMP-9 activity and integrin expression in the choriocarcinoma cell line BeWo, and to explore the potential mechanisms underlying these effects. METHODS: This is an experimental study using choriocarcinoma cell line BeWo. Six treatment groups were established to varying concentrations of ATR and one group served as a control without ATRA exposure. The groups were labelled with fluorescence and performed with flowcytometry to determine MMP-9 and integrin expression. Data was presented as mean ± SD and analyzed using one-way ANOVA with post-hoc tests in which p-value <0.05. RESULT: ATRA at the doses of 100, 200, 400, and 800 μg/ml significantly decreased the MMP-9 activity compared to those in the control group. Furter, ATRA at the doses of 100, 200, 400, and 800 μg/ml significantly increased the integrin expression compared to those in the control group. CONCLUSION: ATRA might decrease the MMP-9 activity as an invasive factor and increase integrin expression as an adhesive factor in the BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line that might play a role in the metastasis mechanism.