Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17(1):259-270. doi:10.7150/ijbs.53795 This issue Cite

Research Paper

NETO2 promotes esophageal cancer progression by inducing proliferation and metastasis via PI3K/AKT and ERK pathway

Jia-cheng Xu1*, Tian-yin Chen1*, Le-tai Liao2*, Tao Chen3, Quan-lin Li1, Jia-xin Xu1, Jian-wei Hu1, Ping-hong Zhou1✉, Yi-qun Zhang1✉

1. Endoscopy Center and Endoscopy Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 180 FengLin Road, Shanghai 200032, China.
2. Department of Emergency Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
3. Endoscopy Center, East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
*These authors contributed equally to this work.

Citation:
Xu Jc, Chen Ty, Liao Lt, Chen T, Li Ql, Xu Jx, Hu Jw, Zhou Ph, Zhang Yq. NETO2 promotes esophageal cancer progression by inducing proliferation and metastasis via PI3K/AKT and ERK pathway. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17(1):259-270. doi:10.7150/ijbs.53795. https://www.ijbs.com/v17p0259.htm
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Abstract

Graphic abstract

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) causes aggressive and lethal malignancies with extremely poor prognoses, and accounts for about 90% of cases of esophageal cancer. Neuropilin and tolloid-like 2 (NETO2) protein coding genes have been associated with various human cancers. Nevertheless, little information is reported about the phenotypic expression and its clinical significance in ESCC progression. Here, our study found that NETO2 expression in ESCC patients was associated with tumor clinical stage and lymph node metastasis status. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function analyses showed that NETO2 stimulated ESCC cell proliferation while suppressing apoptosis in vitro and enhanced tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, knockdown of NETO2 significantly inhibited migration and invasion in combination with regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related markers. Mechanistically, overexpression of NETO2 increased the phosphorylation of ERK, PI3k/AKT, and Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2(Nrf2), whereas silencing NETO2 decreased the phosphorylation of these targets. Our data suggest that Nrf2 was a critical downstream event responsible for triggering the PI3K/AKT and ERK signaling pathways and plays a crucial role in NETO2-mediated tumorigenesis. Taken together, NETO2 acts as an oncogene and might serve as a novel therapeutic target or prognostic biomarker in ESCC patients.

Keywords: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, NETO2, Proliferation, Metastasis, PI3K/AKT and ERK


Citation styles

APA
Xu, J.c., Chen, T.y., Liao, L.t., Chen, T., Li, Q.l., Xu, J.x., Hu, J.w., Zhou, P.h., Zhang, Y.q. (2021). NETO2 promotes esophageal cancer progression by inducing proliferation and metastasis via PI3K/AKT and ERK pathway. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 17(1), 259-270. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.53795.

ACS
Xu, J.c.; Chen, T.y.; Liao, L.t.; Chen, T.; Li, Q.l.; Xu, J.x.; Hu, J.w.; Zhou, P.h.; Zhang, Y.q. NETO2 promotes esophageal cancer progression by inducing proliferation and metastasis via PI3K/AKT and ERK pathway. Int. J. Biol. Sci. 2021, 17 (1), 259-270. DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.53795.

NLM
Xu Jc, Chen Ty, Liao Lt, Chen T, Li Ql, Xu Jx, Hu Jw, Zhou Ph, Zhang Yq. NETO2 promotes esophageal cancer progression by inducing proliferation and metastasis via PI3K/AKT and ERK pathway. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17(1):259-270. doi:10.7150/ijbs.53795. https://www.ijbs.com/v17p0259.htm

CSE
Xu Jc, Chen Ty, Liao Lt, Chen T, Li Ql, Xu Jx, Hu Jw, Zhou Ph, Zhang Yq. 2021. NETO2 promotes esophageal cancer progression by inducing proliferation and metastasis via PI3K/AKT and ERK pathway. Int J Biol Sci. 17(1):259-270.

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