Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Induction of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions in Sarcoma Cells
11:42

Induction of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions in Sarcoma Cells

Published on: April 7, 2017

9.9K

Rab5a is overexpressed in oral cancer and promotes invasion through ERK/MMP signaling

Di Zhang1, Changlong Lu2, Hongjun Ai1

  • 1School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110002, P.R. China.

Molecular Medicine Reports
|August 30, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Ras-related protein Rab-5A (Rab5a) is overexpressed in oral cancer, promoting malignant behaviors like growth and invasion. Its inhibition hinders cancer progression, suggesting Rab5a as a potential therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Ras-related protein Rab-5A (Rab5a) is implicated in various human cancers.
  • The specific role and clinical significance of Rab5a in oral cancer are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and functional role of Rab5a in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
  • To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, including signaling pathways and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry was used to assess Rab5a protein expression in 79 oral cancer samples.
  • In vitro experiments involved Rab5a knockdown (siRNA) and overexpression (transfection) in oral cancer cell lines (Detroit 562 and FaDu).
  • Cell proliferation, invasion, colony formation, cell cycle, migration, and signaling pathway analysis (ERK, MMP-2) were performed.

Main Results:

  • Rab5a protein was upregulated in 49.3% of oral cancer samples.
  • Rab5a depletion inhibited cell growth, invasion, and colony formation, while overexpression promoted these processes.
  • Rab5a facilitated cell cycle progression, migration, and upregulated cell cycle-associated proteins and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2).
  • Rab5a positively regulated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway and promoted EMT. The ERK inhibitor PD98059 partially reversed Rab5a's effects.

Conclusions:

  • Rab5a is overexpressed in oral cancer and contributes to the malignant phenotype.
  • Rab5a promotes oral cancer progression via EMT and the ERK/MMP-2 signaling pathway.
  • Rab5a represents a potential therapeutic target for oral cancer treatment.

More Related Videos

Real-Time Quantitative Measurement of Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion Following Synthetic mRNA Transfection11:00

Real-Time Quantitative Measurement of Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion Following Synthetic mRNA Transfection

Published on: June 23, 2023

2.2K
Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition10:37

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

Published on: August 27, 2013

36.6K

Related Concept Videos

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...
8.8K
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...
4.9K
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho01:24

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho

Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
5.5K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.3K
Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia01:35

Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia

Invadosome is a broad category of cell surface structures with proteolytic activity that  degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadosomes are present in normal cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and neurons, as well as tumor cells. Although the macrophage podosomes and tumor cell invadopodia are classified as invadosomes, they have different structures, molecular pathways, and functions. Podosomes are short structures that last for a few minutes. However,...
3.4K
The Ras Gene02:38

The Ras Gene

The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a...
7.4K