Loss of monopolar spindle-binding protein 3B expression promotes colorectal cancer invasiveness by activation of target of rapamycin kinase/autophagy signaling

BACKGROUND Monopolar spindle-binding protein 3B (MOB3B) functions as a signal transducer and altered MOB3B expression is associated with the development of human cancers. AIM To investigate the role of MOB3B in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS This study collected 102 CRC tissue samples for immunohistochemical detection of MOB3B expression for association with CRC prognosis. After overexpression and knockdown of MOB3B expression were induced in CRC cell lines, changes in cell viability, migration, invasion, and gene expression were assayed. Tumor cell autophagy was detected using transmission electron microscopy, while nude mouse xenograft experiments were performed to confirm the in-vitro results. RESULTS MOB3B expression was reduced in CRC vs normal tissues and loss of MOB3B expression was associated with poor CRC prognosis. Overexpression of MOB3B protein in vitro attenuated the cell viability as well as the migration and invasion capacities of CRC cells, whereas knockdown of MOB3B expression had the opposite effects in CRC cells. At the molecular level, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 II/I expression was elevated, whereas the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2, MMP9, sequestosome 1, and phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) was downregulated in MOB3B-overexpressing RKO cells. In contrast, the opposite results were observed in tumor cells with MOB3B knockdown. The nude mouse data confirmed these in-vitro findings, i.e., MOB3B expression suppressed CRC cell xenograft growth, whereas knockdown of MOB3B expression promoted the growth of CRC cell xenografts. CONCLUSION Loss of MOB3B expression promotes CRC development and malignant behaviors, suggesting a potential tumor suppressive role of MOB3B in CRC by inhibition of mTOR/autophagy signaling.