RASAL2 acts as a tumor suppressor in cervical cancer cells

Abstract

<b>Background: </b>This study was designed to investigate the roles of RASAL2 in cervical cancer (CC). <b>Methods:</b> Fifty-four CC tissues and 33 adjacent tissues were obtained from CC patients admitted to our hospital between March 2012 and June 2014. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to analyze the expression of RASAL2 mRNA and protein in these tissues, CC cell lines, and normal cervical cells. Over-expression and silencing of RASAL2 were induced after transfection, and the migration, invasion, and proliferation of the CC cell lines were examined. <b>Results:</b> RASAL2 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly down-regulated in CC tissues and cell lines than in adjacent tissues and normal cervical cells, respectively. While low RASAL2 expression correlated with advanced stage and metastasis of CC, its over-expression significantly inhibited proliferation and metastasis of CC cells and induced apoptosis. Under <i>in vitro</i> conditions, silencing of RASAL2 expression could significantly increase the proliferation, invasion, and migration of CC cells. <b>Conclusion:</b> RASAL2 functioned as a tumor suppressor in CC, and was down-regulated in CC tissue samples and cell lines. tumor suppressor in CC, and was down-regulated in CC tissue samples and cell lines.