Twist expression associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer

• DOI: 10.1007/s11010-012-1333-8
• Publication Date: 2012-05-12T09:52:51Z
• Authors: Ai-ning Liu; Zhi-Hua Zhu; Shu-jian Chang; Xiao-sheng Hang
• Keywords: Adult; Male; 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Twist-Related Protein 1; Gene Expression; Nuclear Proteins; Middle Aged; Cadherins; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Cell Movement; Stomach Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Lymphatic Metastasis; Humans; Vimentin; Female; Aged

This study aimed to investigate the expression of Twist in gastric cancer tissues and its correlation between Twist and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). By means of RT-PCR and Western blot, the mRNA and protein expressions of Twist, E-cadherin, and Vimentin in 61 gastric cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues were detected. The positive rates of Twist, E-cadherin, and Vimentin mRNA expression in gastric cancer tissues were 73.9. 40.6, and 60.9 %, respectively; compared to the expression of these genes in adjacent normal tissues (2.9, 75.4, and 27.5 %), the differences were significant (p < 0.05). The E-cadherin protein expression level in gastric cancer tissues was significantly lower than that in the adjacent normal tissues (p < 0.05). After the transfection of Twist siRNA into the MKN45 cells, the protein expression of Twist was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), the protein expression of E-cadherin was significantly increased, and the number of cells that passed through the Transwell chamber was significantly lower than that in the non-transfected control group as well as the transfected control group (p < 0.05). Twist may be associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer and the tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis of gastric cancer.