A self-enforcing HOXA11/Stat3 feedback loop promotes stemness properties and peritoneal metastasis in gastric cancer cells.
Rationale: Peritoneal metastasis is one of the most common and life-threatening metastases in gastric cancer patients. The disseminated gastric cancer cells forming peritoneal metastasis exhibit a variety of characteristics that contrast with those of adjacent epithelial cell of gastric mucosa and even primary gastric cancer cells. We hypothesized that the gene expression profiles of peritoneal foci could reveal the identities of genes that might function as metastatic activator. Methods: In this study, we show, using in vitro, in vivo, in silico and gastric cancer tissues studies in humans and mice, that Homoebox A11 (HOXA11) potently promote peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer cells. Results: Its mechanism of action involves alternation of cancer stemness and subsequently enhancement of the adhesion, migration and invasion and anti-apoptosis. This is achieved, mainly, through formation of a positive feedback loop between HOXA11 and Stat3, which is involved in the stimulation of Stat3 signaling pathway. Conclusions: These observations uncover a novel peritoneal metastatic activator and demonstrate the association between HOXA11, Stat3 and cancer stemness of gastric cancer cells, thereby revealing a previously undescribed mechanism of peritoneal metastasis.
['Wang|Chao|C|', 'Shi|Min|M|', 'Ji|Jun|J|', 'Cai|Qu|Q|', 'Jiang|Jinling|J|', 'Zhang|Huan|H|', 'Zhu|Zhenggang|Z|', 'Zhang|Jun|J|']
D000818:Animals D017209:Apoptosis D002460:Cell Line D045744:Cell Line, Tumor D002465:Cell Movement D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic D057809:HEK293 Cells D018398:Homeodomain Proteins D006801:Humans D008297:Male D051379:Mice D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C D008819:Mice, Nude D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor D015398:Signal Transduction D013274:Stomach Neoplasms
HOXA11 Stat3 peritoneal metastasis gastric cancer BBI608