Protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibition induces anti-tumor activity: Evidence of Cdk2/p27kip1 and Cdk2/SHP-1 complex formation in human ovarian cancer cells

The protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) superfamily of enzymes functions with protein tyrosine kinases to regulate a broad spectrum of fundamental physiological processes. Addition of the PTP inhibitor potassium bisperoxo(1,10-phenanthroline)oxo-vanadate(V) [bpV(phen)] to the culture medium of human ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-3) resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the formation of tumors in a 3-D culture system. An evaluation of the potency of bpV(phen) in vivo confirmed the anti-tumor activity. Further study of the mechanism of action revealed a 40% decrease in Cdk2 kinase activity, an elevated level of Cdk2/p27kip1, and the appearance of Cdk2/SHP-1 complexes. Therefore, a cytostatic dose of a PTP inhibitor increases the intracellular levels of Cdk2/p27kip and Cdk2/SHP-1 complexes, which indicate the presence of additional mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor activity.