title: Activating transcription factor 3 promotes malignance of lung cancer cells in vitro.
abstract: Lung cancer remains the most common cause of cancer-related death, with high rates of recurrence and poor outcomes. An abnormally high expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in various cancers suggests an oncogenic role; however, its function in lung cancer is largely unknown.
  
  
  
  Sixty-four pairs of lung cancer tissues were collected for ATF3 expression analysis by quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry staining. Correlations between ATF3 expression with clinicopathological features and overall survival were analyzed. ATF3 expression in a panel of lung cancer cell lines together with normal bronchial epithelial Beas-2B cells was also determined. Human H1299 and A549 cells were used for ATF3 knockdown and/or overexpression assays. Alterations in cell proliferation, cell cycle attribution, migration, and invasion were all assessed in vitro.
  
  
  
  Increased ATF3 messenger RNA and protein expression were observed in lung cancer tissues/cells compared with normal tissues/cells. High tumorous ATF3 expression was significantly correlated with positive advanced tumor grade, lymph node metastasis, and shorter overall survival. Experimentally, we found that RNA interference mediated knockdown of ATF3 significantly inhibited the cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, and invasion capacities of lung cancer cells in vitro, whereas forced expression of ATF3 did the opposite.
  
  
  
  Upregulation of ATF3 in lung cancer promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and may represent a novel therapeutic target for lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xuebing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of the Nervous System, Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System of Education Ministry, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xuexia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yongwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Hongli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Boning
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yaguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.|Sichuan Lung Cancer Institute, Sichuan Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Qinghua
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000072283:A549 Cells; D051700:Activating Transcription Factor 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D000368:Aged; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D051700:Activating Transcription Factor 3
keywords: 
  ATF3; lung cancer; tumor progression