Open AccessSemaphorin 3 C is involved in the progression of gastric cancer
Author(s) -
Miyato Hideyo,
Tsuno Nelson Hirokazu,
Kitayama Joji
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/cas.12003
Subject(s) - semaphorin , angiogenesis , tumor progression , cancer , cancer research , biology , pathology , immunohistochemistry , cancer cell , immunostaining , apoptosis , medicine , immunology , receptor , biochemistry , genetics
Malignant tumors are often associated with denervation, suggesting the functional implication of axonal guidance molecules in tumor growth. Here, we assessed the role of semaphorin 3 C (sema3 C ) in the progression of gastric cancer. Immunohistochemistry of human samples revealed that sema3 C was strongly expressed in neoplastic cells, especially at the invasion front. Stable transfection of target sequences of sema3C mi RNA did not affect the in vitro proliferative activity of human gastric cancer AZ ‐521 cells. However, when the tumor growth was examined in vivo using an orthotopic model in nude mice, primary stomach tumors as well as metastatic liver tumors were significantly suppressed by sema3 C silencing with the reduction of microvessel density. Immunostaining of primary tumor indicated the rate of K i‐67 positive carcinoma cells was decreased, whereas that of apoptotic cells was significantly increased in sema3 C ‐silenced tumor. In addition, capillary‐like tubular formation was reduced by the addition of culture media of sema3 C mi RNA cells compared with the media of control mi RNA cells. Semaphorin 3 C is positively expressed in gastric cancer cells and may be involved in tumor progression, presumably through the stimulation of angiogenesis.