Inhibition of EWS-FLI-1 fusion protein with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides

Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors (EFT) contain reciprocal translocations, of which approximately 90% occur between the long arm of chromosomes 11 and 22, t(11;22)(q24;q12), resulting in the formation of chimeric proteins generated by a fusion of the EWS and FLI-1 genes. To determine if EWS-FLI-1 protein is responsible for the Ewing sarcoma phenotype we have used sequence-specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) to block its expression. We have evaluated a series of antisense ODN directed toward the breakpoint region in an effort to prevent translation of the fusion messenger RNA. ODN were first evaluated in a cell-free in vitro translation system. Exogenously added RNase H was found to be required for translation inhibition. ODN that showed complete inhibition of translation were electroporated into TC-32 cells, a EFT cell line. Fusion protein and EWS protein levels were evaluated by Western blot analysis. A 40—60% decrease in the fusion protein was observed in TC-32 cells with antisense ODN directed toward the breakpoint region. Cell viability was reduced with antisense sequences in TC-32 cells but not in a prostate cancer cell line. Since inhibition of t(11;22) gene product is correlated to effects on cell viability, reduction of the fusion protein may thus offer insight into the biology of EFT.