Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Combined Use of Tail Vein Metastasis Assays and Real-Time In Vivo Imaging to Quantify Breast Cancer Metastatic Colonization and Burden in the Lungs
10:32

Combined Use of Tail Vein Metastasis Assays and Real-Time In Vivo Imaging to Quantify Breast Cancer Metastatic Colonization and Burden in the Lungs

Published on: December 19, 2019

Strong association of ARK5 with tumor invasion and metastasis

G Kusakai1, A Suzuki, T Ogura

  • 1National Cancer Center Research Institute East, Chiba, Japan.

Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research : CR
|September 10, 2004
PubMed

Insights

The novel human AMPK family member ARK5 promotes cancer cell survival and migration. ARK5 overexpression enhances cancer cell invasion and metastasis, particularly in liver metastasis.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • A novel human AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family member, ARK5, has been identified.
  • ARK5 plays a role in Akt-dependent cancer cell survival and migration through MT1-MMP activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of ARK5 in cancer cell invasion and metastasis.
  • To analyze ARK5 mRNA expression in human colorectal carcinoma cell lines.
  • To evaluate the effect of ARK5 overexpression on cancer metastasis in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • RT-PCR and Quantitative-PCR (Q-PCR) were used to measure ARK5 mRNA expression in human colorectal carcinoma cell lines.
  • Human pancreas and colorectal cancer cell lines were stably transfected with an ARK5 full-length expression vector.
  • Migration and in vivo metastasis assays were performed to assess the impact of ARK5 overexpression.

Main Results:

  • ARK5 mRNA was detected in all tested colorectal carcinoma cell lines, with varying expression levels.
  • High ARK5 expression was observed in LoVo cells, derived from a metastatic lesion.
  • Overexpression of ARK5 significantly increased migration activity in both pancreas and colorectal cancer cell lines.
  • ARK5 overexpression markedly enhanced liver metastasis in vivo.

Conclusions:

  • ARK5 expression is implicated in cancer cell invasion and metastasis.
  • ARK5 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for inhibiting cancer spread.

Related Concept Videos

Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...