Open Access

ARTICLE

Knockdown of Upregulated Gene 11 (URG11) Inhibits Proliferation, Invasion, and b-Catenin Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Zhe-liang Liu^*, Jiao Wu^†, Lin-xian Wang^‡, Jin-feng Yang^†, Gao-ming Xiao^*, Hui-ping Sun^†, Yue-jun Chen^*

* The First Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
† Department of Anesthesiology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
‡ Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China

Oncology Research 2016, 24(3), 197-204. https://doi.org/10.3727/096504016X14648701447850

Abstract

Upregulated gene 11 (URG11), a new gene upregulated by hepatitis B virus X protein, was found to be involved in the development and progression of several tumors. However, the role of URG11 in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not yet been determined. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the role of URG11 in human NSCLC. Our results found that URG11 was highly expressed in human NSCLC tissues compared with matched normal lung tissues, and higher levels were found in NSCLC cell lines in comparison to the normal lung cell line. Moreover, we also found that knockdown of URG11 significantly inhibited proliferation, migration/invasion of NSCLC cells, as well as suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, knockdown of URG11 suppressed the expression of β-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1 in NSCLC cells. Taken together, the study reported here provided evidence that URG11 downregulation suppresses proliferation, invasion, and β-catenin expression in NSCLC cells. Thus, URG11 may be a novel potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.

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