ATG4A promotes tumor metastasis by inducing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stem-like properties in gastric cells.

ABSTRACT: The metastasis of tumor cells to distant organs is an ominous feature of gastric cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells remain elusive. In this study, we found that the expression of ATG4A, an autophagy-regulating molecule, was significantly increased in gastric cancer tissues and was significantlycorrelated with the gastric cancer differentiation degree, tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis. ATG4A over-expression significantly promoted gastric cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo, as well as promoted gastric cancer cell stem-like properties and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype. By contrast, ATG4A knockdown inhibited the migration, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells

SUBMITTER: Yang SW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5129932 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature