Abstract 539: MAEL promotes colorectal cancer cell growth and migration by activating EGFR pathway

Abstract

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system. It is generally accepted that CRC pathogenesis is a long-term process involving accumulation of multiple genetic alterations. Herein, we aim to explore the molecular biological mechanisms of CRC initiation and progression. We have been committed to investigating MAEL function in digestive neoplasms and have found MAEL is a new candidate oncogene. Previously, overexpression of MAEL was frequently detected in CRC tissues and significantly associated with poor 5-year outcome. By MTT assay and transwell assay, functional study demonstrated that overexpression of MAEL promoted cell growth and cell migration in DLD1 and THC8307 cell lines. Furthermore overexpression of MAEL in DLD1 cell line could promote tumor formation in nude mice. Further study found that MAEL overexpression in DLD1 and THC8307 elevated the protein expression of p-EGFR, p-Raf-1, p-ERK 1/2, p-PI3K and p-AKT. These data indicated that MAEL enhanced the activity of EGFR/Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK1/2 and EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathways. However, more effort is needed to investigate MAEL function and how MAEL activate EGFR pathways. Citation Format: Lulu Liu, Zhou Tong, Weiqin Jiang, Yi Zheng, Peng Zhao, Weijia Fang. MAEL promotes colorectal cancer cell growth and migration by activating EGFR pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 539. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-539