Effect and mechanism of RUNX3 gene on biological characteristics of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of RUNX3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells biological behavior and the relationship between the expression of RUNX3 and MMP-9, TIMP-1, ICAM-1. RUNX3 levels in 90 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma specimens using immunohistochemical staining to examine the correlation between RUNX3 expression and clinical stage of ESCC. Furthermore, the role of RUNX3 in ESCC progression was evaluated in vitro by siRNA-mediated knockdown of RUNX3 or lentivirus-mediated overexpression of RUNX3 in ESCC cell lines. The expression and activities of MMP-9, TIMP-1, and ICAM-1 were analyzed. We found decreased expression of RUNX3 in ESCC tissue to be significantly related to T stage of tumor (p < 0.01). In vitro, knockdown of RUNX3 in Eca9706 cells resulted in promoting cell growth, migration, and invasion. Additionally, MMP-9 and ICAM-1 were upregulated in RUNX3-knockdown cells. Notably, RUNX3 over-expression in Kyse150 cells could significantly decrease MMP-9 and ICAM-1. Tumorigenesis in vivo was significantly determined. The study indicates that low expression of RUNX3 in human ESCC tissue is significantly correlated with progression. Restoration of RUNX3 expression significantly inhibits ESCC cells migration, invasion, and tumorigenesis, which may be caused by RUNX3's interaction with MMP-9 and ICAM-1; RUNX3 may be a potential therapeutic target for ESCC.