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Published on: February 5, 2018

The roles of REIC gene and its encoding product in gastric carcinoma

Xiao-yan Xu1, Pu Xia, Miao Yu

  • 1Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Pathology and Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|March 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Reduced REIC protein expression correlates with aggressive gastric cancer and poor prognosis. REIC (Reduced Expression in Immortalized Cells) may inhibit tumor growth and metastasis.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Reduced Expression in Immortalized Cells (REIC) is downregulated in cancer cells compared to normal cells.
  • REIC may play a role in inhibiting tumor growth, colony formation, and inducing apoptosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of REIC in gastric carcinoma.
  • To examine the association between REIC expression and clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying REIC's function in gastric cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • Gastric carcinoma and epithelial cells were transfected with REIC-expressing plasmids or siRNA, or treated with recombinant REIC.
  • REIC expression was analyzed using RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry.
  • Cell phenotypes (proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion) and molecular markers were measured.

Main Results:

  • REIC overexpression inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion, while promoting apoptosis in AGS gastric cancer cells.
  • REIC knockdown in GES-1 cells induced opposite effects.
  • REIC expression was negatively associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis in gastric carcinoma patients.
  • Serum REIC levels were lower in gastric cancer patients and inversely correlated with tumor size.

Conclusions:

  • Downregulated REIC expression is linked to aggressive gastric carcinoma behaviors and poor prognosis.
  • REIC overexpression reverses aggressive phenotypes by downregulating β-catenin and WAVE2, and altering other target proteins.
  • REIC serves as a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer.

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