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Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research
Published in: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Short hairpin RNA- mediated gene knockdown of FOXM1 inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of human colon cancer cells through reversal of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation

Authors: KanKan Yang, LinHua Jiang, You Hu, Jing Yu, HenFeng Chen, YiZhou Yao, XinGuo Zhu

Published in: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

The Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) is an oncogenic transcription factor and plays a significant role in cell EMT, proliferation, metastasis in a multitude of human solid tumors including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms by which FoxM1 contributes to epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) and metastasis have not been fully elucidated in CRC.

Methods

In our study, we investigated FOXM1 protein expression in 87 CRC tissue specimens, invasive lymph nodes and adjacent paired normal colorectal tissues by immunohistochemical analysis. Then we transfected FOXM1 specific shRNA into SW620 cells to examine effect of FOXM1 on proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion in vitro. Western blotting and real-time PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of FOXM1 and EMT-related markers.

Results

FOXM1 was overexpressed in CRC tissues, invasive lymph nodes and CRC cell lines. FoxM1 overexpression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001), and tumor recurrence (P < 0.001). Moreover, downregulation of FOXM1 in SW620 cells by shRNA approach inhibited cell growth, clonogenicity, migration and invasion in vitro. In addition, decreased FOXM1 expression in SW620 cells reversed the acquisition of EMT phenotype by up-regulating E-cadherin, as well as reduction Vimentin and Snail expressions at protein and mRNA levels.

Conclusions

FOXM1 may regulate CRC cells metastasis through EMT program and FOXM1 may be a potential target for treatment of CRC.
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Metadata
Title
Short hairpin RNA- mediated gene knockdown of FOXM1 inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of human colon cancer cells through reversal of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation
Authors
KanKan Yang
LinHua Jiang
You Hu
Jing Yu
HenFeng Chen
YiZhou Yao
XinGuo Zhu
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1756-9966
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-015-0158-1

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