Hyaluronic acid (HA) promotes tumor metastasis and is an accurate diagnostic marker for bladder cancer. HA is synthesized by HA synthases HAS1, HAS2, or HAS3. We have previously shown that HAS1 expression in tumor tissues is a predictor of bladder cancer recurrence and treatment failure. In this study, we stably transfected HT1376 bladder cancer cells with HAS1-sense (HAS1-S), HAS1-antisense (HAS1-AS), or vector cDNA constructs. Whereas HAS1-S transfectants produced f1.7-fold more HA than

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... transfectants, HA production was reduced by f70% in HAS1-AS transfectants. HAS1-AS transfectants grew 5-fold slower and were f60% less invasive than vector and HAS1-S transfectants. HAS1-AS transfectants were blocked in G 2 -M phase of the cell cycle due to down-regulation of cyclin B1, cdc25c, and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 levels. These transfectants were also 5-to 10-fold more apoptotic due to the activation of the Fas-Fas ligandmediated extrinsic pathway. HAS1-AS transfectants showed a f4-fold decrease in ErbB2 phosphorylation and downregulation of CD44 variant isoforms (CD44-v3, CD44-v6, and CD44-E) both at the protein and mRNA levels. However, no decrease in RHAMM levels was observed. The decrease in CD44-v mRNA levels was not due to increased mRNA degradation. Whereas CD44 small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection decreased cell growth and induced apoptosis in HT1376 cells, HA addition modestly increased CD44 expression and cell growth in HAS1-AS transfectants, which could be blocked by CD44 siRNA. In xenograft studies, HAS1-AS tumors grew 3-to 5-fold slower and had f4-fold lower microvessel density. These results show that HAS1 regulates bladder cancer growth and progression by modulating HA synthesis and HA receptor levels. [Cancer Res 2008;68(2):483-91] Requests for reprints: Vinata B. Lokeshwar,