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Endothelial cell protein C receptor promotes MGC803 gastric cancer cells proliferation and migration by activating ERK1/2

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Abstract

The endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) has been reported to be involved in the development of several human cancers. However, the role of EPCR in gastric cancer progression has not been clarified. In this study, we show for the first time that EPCR is related to gastric cancer. Our results indicate that EPCR is highly expressed in clinical gastric cancer tissue. Knockdown of EPCR by small interference RNA suppressed the proliferation and migration of MGC803 gastric cancer cells dominantly. Blocking antibodies to protease-activated receptor-1(PAR1) also suppressed the proliferation and migration of MGC803 cells. Knockdown EPCR and blocking PAR1 inhibit activation of extracellular signaling-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). Taken together, these results indicate that EPCR contributes to the proliferation and migration of MGC803 gastric cancer cells by activating ERK1/2, and this effect of EPCR may be dependent on PAR1. Therefore, EPCR may be act as a novel therapeutic target for inhibiting cell growth in gastric cancer.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81101493).

Conflict of interest

The authors state that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standard

These specimens were collected from the patients registered at the above-mentioned hospital, and written informed consent was obtained from the patients. This study was approved by the ethics committee of the hospital.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China

    Qingling Wang, Qingru Liu, Tianyuan Wang, Hongli Yang & Zhengjie Han

  2. Department of Biological Pathogens and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China

    Peng Zhang

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  1. Qingling Wang
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  2. Qingru Liu
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  3. Tianyuan Wang
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  4. Hongli Yang
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  5. Zhengjie Han
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  6. Peng Zhang
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Correspondence to Peng Zhang.

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Wang, Q., Liu, Q., Wang, T. et al. Endothelial cell protein C receptor promotes MGC803 gastric cancer cells proliferation and migration by activating ERK1/2. Med Oncol 32, 162 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-015-0614-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-015-0614-y

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