Fig. 5.

Fentanyl activates EGFR-mediated signaling and increases epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ovarian cancer cells. A Representative western blot of SK-OV-3 cells after 24 h exposure of fentanyl. Antibodies used in western blot analyses include anti-p-EGFR (Tyr1173), anti-EGFR, anti-p-90RSK (T359/S363), anti-90RSK, anti-p-PDGFR-β (T857), anti-PDGFR-β, anti-p-ERK (T202/Y204), anti-ERK, anti-Akt (S473), anti-Akt, anti-Vimentin, anti-Snail, anti-Slug and anti-Claudin-1. The blots were cut prior to hybridization with antibodies during blotting. B Fentanyl significantly increases p-EGFR but not p-Src in ovarian cancer cells. C Fentanyl significantly increases p-ERK, p-90RSK and p-Akt. D Fentanyl significantly increases Vimentin, Snail and Slug, and decreases Claudin-1. *, P < 0.01, compared to control