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Cancer Cell International
Published in: Cancer Cell International 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Metastasis | Primary research

HOXB8 enhances the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells by promoting EMT via STAT3 activation

Authors: Tingting Wang, Feiyan Lin, Xuecheng Sun, Lei Jiang, Ruibo Mao, Shenyue Zhou, Wenjing Shang, Ruichun Bi, Fengying Lu, Shaotang Li

Published in: Cancer Cell International | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated that the expression of homeobox8 (HOXB8) is higher in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues than in normal tissues; however, the precise role of HOXB8 in human CRC cells remains to be elucidated.

Methods

We generated lentiviral constructs to overexpress and silence HOXB8 in CRC cell lines, and examined their biological functions through MTT, wound healing, colony and transwell, expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) related factors through western-blot.

Results

HOXB8 knockdown inhibited cellular proliferation and invasion in vitro as well as carcinogenesis and metastasis in vivo. HOXB8 also induced EMT, which is characterized by the down-regulation of E-cadherin and the up-regulation of Vimentin, N-cadherin, Twist, Zeb1 and Zeb2. Moreover, HOXB8 activated STAT3, which is known to play an oncogenic role in diverse human malignancies.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that HOXB8 may be an independent prognostic factor in CRC. Therefore, deserved a deeper research.
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Metadata
Title
HOXB8 enhances the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells by promoting EMT via STAT3 activation
Authors
Tingting Wang
Feiyan Lin
Xuecheng Sun
Lei Jiang
Ruibo Mao
Shenyue Zhou
Wenjing Shang
Ruichun Bi
Fengying Lu
Shaotang Li
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Cancer Cell International / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2867
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-018-0717-6

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