title: Upregulation of metastasis-associated gene 2 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metastasis-associated gene 2 (MTA2) is reported to play an important role in tumor progression, but little is known about the role of MTA2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The aim of the study was to explore the expression and function of MTA2 in NPC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of MTA2 in NPC tissues and cell lines was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Relationship between MTA2 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed. Stable MTA2-overexpressing and MTA2-siliencing NPC cells were established by transfection with plasmids encoding MTA2 cDNA and lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA, respectively. Cell viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assay. Cell migration ability was evaluated by wound healing and transwell invasion assay. The impact of MTA2 knockdown on growth and metastasis of CNE2 cells in vivo was determined by nude mouse xenograft models. Expression of several Akt pathway proteins was detected by Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MTA2 was upregulated in NPC tissues and three NPC cell lines detected (CNE1, CNE2, and HNE1). MTA2 expression was related to clinical stage and lymph node metastasis of patients with NPC. MTA2 upregulation promoted proliferation and invasion of CNE1 cells, while MTA2 depletion had opposite effects on CNE2 cells. Moreover, MTA2 depletion suppressed growth and metastasis of CNE2 cells in vivo. MTA2 overexpression activated Akt and upregulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 7 and cyclin D1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that MTA2 acts as an oncogene in tumorigenesis of NPC. MTA2 may be a potential target for gene therapy in NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; Department of Histology and Embryology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Minhua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Cancer Center of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xubin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Pathological Diagnosis and Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yanxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Pathological Diagnosis and Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaofang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: Akt pathway; MTA2; invasion; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; proliferation