Tolfenamic acid inhibits ovarian cancer cell growth and decreases the expression of c-Met and survivin through suppressing specificity protein transcription factors

The aberrant expression of hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor c-Met are associated with aggressive disease and poor prognosis in a variety of human malignancies including ovarian cancer (OC). Specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors have high relevance in the signaling cascade associated with c- Met activation. Tolfenamic acid (TA), a NSAID, is known to induce the degradation of Sp proteins, which have been negatively associated with survival in some cancer patients. Our aim was to examine the anti-OC activity of TA using in vitro and in vivo models and asses the inhibitory effects of this novel compound.