Cutaneous melanoma is very aggressive and results in high mortality rates for cancer patients. Determining molecular targets is important for developing novel therapies for cutaneous melanoma. Cell division cycle associated 8 (CDCA8) is a putative oncogene that is upregulated in multiple types of cancer. The present study aimed to examine the role of CDCA8 in cutaneous melanoma, with a focus on the association of its expression to prognosis and metastasis. First, the mRNA expression of CDCA8 in cutaneous melanoma tissues was investigated using the ONCOMINE and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Furthermore, the relationship between the expression of CDCA8 and cutaneous melanoma patient survival was analyzed using a Kaplan-Meier plot and Log Rank test. In addition, the effects of CDCA8 on proliferation, migration and invasion of cutaneous melanoma cell lines were investigated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Cell Counting kit-8, colony formation assay, wound healing and Matrigel assay. Finally, the expression levels of key proteins related to the Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway were measured by western blot assay. The results demonstrated that CDCA8 was overexpressed in cutaneous melanoma tissues and cells lines compared with normal tissues, and high expression of CDCA8 was significantly associated with poorer prognosis in patients with cutaneous melanoma. In in vitro experiments, CDCA8 knockdown inhibited A375 and MV3 cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In addition, CDCA8 knockdown reduced the phosphorylation levels of ROCK1 and myosin light chain, two downstream effector proteins of the ROCK pathway. In summary, the present findings suggested that CDCA8 may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma.
Summary Background The protein kynureninase (KYNU) has recently been reported to participate in the pathological processes of various diseases. Aim To explore the expression and the biological function of KYNU in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Methods Expression of KYNU in cSCC cell lines and tissues was firstly evaluated based on the Gene Expression Omnibus and the Oncomine databases. Quantitative reverse transcription–PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of KYNU in cSCC cell lines. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used for silencing KYNU. The effect of KYNU on the growth and motility of cSCC cells was determined by cell counting kit‐8, wound‐healing and Transwell assays, and western blotting was used to determine the protein expression of KYNU, AKT, phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated (p)‐AKT and p‐PI3K. Results KYNU was significantly upregulated in cSCC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of KYNU using siRNA noticeably suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of SCL‐1 cells (P < 0.01). Western blotting revealed that phosphorylation of AKT and PI3K was markedly inhibited after silencing KYNU. The ratios of p‐AKT/AKT and p‐PI3K/PI3K were significantly decreased in the si‐KYNU group compared with the control group. Conclusion Depletion of KYNU could inhibit the growth of cSCC cells, possibly through modulating PI3K/AKT pathway. These data indicate that KYNU takes a key part in the malignant progression of cSCC, and could be considered as a promising therapeutic target for cSCC treatment.
Background Melanoma is among the most aggressive types of skin malignancy and can have an unpredictable clinical course. Exploration of novel therapeutic targets and their regulators remains essential for the prevention and treatment of melanoma. Methods HSDL2 protein levels were examined by immunohistochemistry. The roles of HSDL2 in cell proliferation and apoptosis were identified by CCK-8 and colony formation assays. The function of HSDL2 in cell apoptosis was analysed by flow cytometry. Western blotting, cell proliferation and apoptosis and a xenograft tumour model were utilized to explore the inhibitory functions and mechanisms of CuE in melanoma. Results HSDL2 is overexpressed in melanoma and promotes melanoma progression by activating the ERK and AKT pathways. CuE could inhibit the ERK and AKT pathways by decreasing HSDL2 expression; therefore, CuE could inhibit melanoma growth in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion HSDL2 may be a promising therapeutic target against melanoma, and CuE can inhibit melanoma by downregulating HSDL2 expression.
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