title: Expression of elongation factor-2 kinase contributes to anoikis resistance and invasion of human glioma cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF-2 kinase) contributes to the malignant phenotype of glioblastoma multiforme by promoting the migration and invasion of glioma cells. The mechanism involved was also explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human glioma cell lines T98G and LN-229 were used. The expression of eEF-2 kinase was silenced using siRNA, and the invasive potential of tumor cells was assessed using a wound-healing assay and a Matrigel invasion assay. Apoptosis was determined using propidium iodide (PI) staining and Western blot analysis of cleaved caspase-3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Silencing the expression of eEF-2 kinase by siRNA significantly suppressed both the migration and invasion of human glioma cells. Silencing eEF-2 kinase expression also sensitized glioma cells to anoikis, thereby decreasing tumor cell viability in the absence of attachment. Treatment of tumor cells with the caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk down-regulated Bim accumulation and abolished glioma cell sensitivity to anoikis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the expression of eEF-2 kinase contributes to migration and invasion of human glioma cells by protecting them from anoikis. eEF-2 kinase expression may serve as a prognostic marker and a novel target for cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zheng-hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Jin-ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D023102:Anoikis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D054736:Elongation Factor 2 Kinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D034622:RNA Interference
chemical_list: D054736:Elongation Factor 2 Kinase