Up-regulation of MSX2 enhances the malignant phenotype and is associated with twist 1 expression in human pancreatic cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: MSX2 is thought to be a regulator of organ development and a downstream target of the ras signaling pathway; however, little is known about the role of MSX2 in the development of pancreatic cancers, most of which harbor a K-ras gene mutation. Therefore, we examined whether the presence of MSX2 correlates with the malignant behavior of pancreatic cancer cells. BxPC3 pancreatic cancer cells that stably overexpress MSX2 showed a flattened and scattered morphology accompanied by a change in localization of E-cadherin and beta-catenin from membrane to cytoplasm. Cell proliferation rate, cell migration, and anchorage-independent cell growth were enhanced in MSX2-expressing cells. Injection of MSX2-expressing cells into the pancreas of nude mice resulted in a significant increase in liver metasta

SUBMITTER: Satoh K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2276419 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature