Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026

Experimental Metastasis Assay
Published on: August 24, 2010
RUNX2 is overexpressed in melanoma cells and mediates their migration and invasion
Rajeev K Boregowda1, Oyenike O Olabisi1, Walid Abushahba1
1Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA.
Abstract:
In the present study, we investigated the role of the transcription factor RUNX2 in melanomagenesis. We demonstrated that the expression of transcriptionally active RUNX2 was increased in melanoma cell lines as compared with human melanocytes. Using a melanoma tissue microarray, we showed that RUNX2 levels were higher in melanoma cells as compared with nevic melanocytes. RUNX2 knockdown in melanoma cell lines significantly decreased Focal Adhesion Kinase expression, and inhibited their cell growth, migration and invasion ability. Finally, the pro-hormone cholecalciferol reduced RUNX2 transcriptional activity and decreased migration of melanoma cells, further suggesting a role of RUNX2 in melanoma cell migration.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Metastasis
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 Cascades
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Somatic...
Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...

