SPAG9 expression is increased in human prostate cancer and promotes cell motility, invasion and angiogenesis in vitro

• Published in: Oncology reports Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 2533 - 2540
• Main Authors: CHEN, FEIFEI, LU, ZHENG, DENG, JUNPENG, HAN, XUECHAO, BAI, JIN, LIU, QINGHUA, XI, YAGUANG, ZHENG, JUNNIAN
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece D.A. Spandidos 01.12.2014; Spandidos Publications; Spandidos Publications UK Ltd
• Subjects: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - genetics; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - metabolism; Angiogenesis; Antigens; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Cells; Cervical cancer; Comparative analysis; Development and progression; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Infrared imaging systems; invasion; Kinases; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - metabolism; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Motility; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neovascularization; Neovascularization, Pathologic - metabolism; Physiological aspects; Prostate - metabolism; Prostate cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Proteins; SPAG9; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 - genetics; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 - metabolism; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 - genetics; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 - metabolism; Tumor proteins; Tumors; Vascular endothelial growth factor; China; United States > US
• ISSN: 1021-335X; 1791-2431
• DOI: 10.3892/or.2014.3539

Sperm-associated antigen 9 (SPAG9) is a recently characterized oncoprotein involved in the progression of several human malignancies. To elucidate the role of SPAG9 in the development of human prostate cancer (PCa), tissue microarray (TMA) and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the clinical relevance of SPAG9 in PCa tissues. We found that SPAG9 expression was increased in the PCa tissues when compared with the level in the tumor adjacent normal prostate tissues, and increased SPAG9 staining was significantly correlated with TNM stage and tumor grade. We also examined prostate cancer cell motility, invasion and angiogenesis ability following reduced SPAG9 expression by siRNA. Our data showed that knockdown of SPAG9 in prostate cancer cell lines inhibited cell motility and invasion due to the inactivation of metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2)/MMP-9 by upregulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1)/TIMP-2. Furthermore, downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion greatly contributed to the reduced ability of angiogenesis. Our data indicate that SPAG9 expression is significantly increased in PCa and it may be involved in the process of prostate cancer cell motility, migration and angiogenesis.