Down-expression of homeobox A9promotes cancer cell invasion in human hepatocellular carcinomas

作者：Li, Fangyi; Dong, Lei^*; Qu, Xiaotong; Li, Kejun; Wang, Hongjiang; Cheng, Lei; He, Hui; Wang, Li; Qi, Zeyu; Ren, Haijun; Jin, Shi

来源：International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, 2016, 9(2): 563-575.

• HOXA9
• hepatocellular carcinomas
• migration

Metastasis is the most important contributor to the mortality ofpatients with hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), but the molecular basis for this is unknown. Previous studies had found that homeobox A9 (HOXA9) wasfrequently methylated in HCCs; however, little is known about whether HOXA9 can influence the malignant properties of HCC cells and the exhaustive mechanisms in HCC progression. In a screen of 82 patients with HCCs, we found that HOXA9 protein expression was inversely correlated with invasion, lymphnode metastasis, and poor clinical outcomes. Silencing HOXA9 in HCC cells increased their neoplastic properties invitro and in vivo, markedly increasing the migratory, invasive, and metastatic capabilities of malignant cells. In contrast, ectopic expression of HOXA9 in HCC cells inhibited these processes. We also found that HOXA9 promoted the expression of E-cadherin and inhibited the expression of N-cadherin. These observations contribute to our understanding of the important roles of HOXA9 in HCC development and progression and HOXA9 could be a promising molecular target for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for HCC.

• 出版日期2016
• 单位大连医科大学