title: Overexpression of RAS-Association Domain Family 6 (RASSF6) Inhibits Proliferation and Tumorigenesis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.
abstract: Ras-association domain family 6 (RASSF6), a member of the RASSF family, is frequently downregulated in various types of cancer. However, the roles of RASSF6 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the biological functions and related molecular mechanisms in HCC. Our results found that RASSF6 is expressed in low amounts in HCC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of RASSF6 obviously inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and EMT process in HCC cells. Furthermore, overexpression of RASFF6 greatly downregulated the protein levels of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (FAK), MMP-2, and MMP-9 in HepG2 cells. Last, overexpression of RASFF6 significantly attenuated tumor growth in Balb/c nude mice. In conclusion, the present study revealed that RASFF6 can inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells both in vivo and in vitro. These inhibitory effects are through suppressing FAK phosphorylation, leading to decreased MMP-2/9 expression. RASFF6 is therefore a potential therapeutic target for treating HCC.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Mahui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Si
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yingying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Xijun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhipeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Guangshun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C519911:RASSF6 protein, human; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; C496050:PTK2 protein, human; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins