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Updated: Feb 3, 2026

3-D Cell Culture System for Studying Invasion and Evaluating Therapeutics in Bladder Cancer
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3-D Cell Culture System for Studying Invasion and Evaluating Therapeutics in Bladder Cancer

Published on: September 13, 2018

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Nodal regulates bladder cancer cell migration and invasion via the ALK/Smad signaling pathway

Youkong Li1, Wen Zhong2, Min Zhu1

  • 1Department of Urology, Jingzhou Central Hospital and The Second Clinical Medical College, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434020, People's Republic of China, yiukongli0412@163.com.

Oncotargets and Therapy
|October 17, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Nodal acts as an oncogene in bladder cancer, promoting cell proliferation and invasion. Inhibiting Nodal may offer a new treatment strategy for bladder cancer by targeting the ALK/Smad signaling pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Bladder cancer is a prevalent urinary tract malignancy.
  • The role and mechanisms of Nodal in bladder cancer remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the biological function of Nodal in bladder cancer.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying Nodal's role in bladder cancer progression.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative real-time PCR to assess Nodal expression in tissues and cells.
  • In vitro assays (MTT, colony formation, transwell) to evaluate Nodal's impact on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
  • Western blot to analyze protein expression related to proliferation, invasion, and the ALK/Smad signaling pathway.

Main Results:

  • Nodal expression is significantly upregulated in bladder cancer.
  • Nodal downregulation inhibits bladder cancer cell proliferation, clone formation, migration, and invasion.
  • Nodal affects the expression of key proteins (CDC6, E-cadherin, MMP-2, MMP-9) and components of the ALK/Smad pathway (ALK4, ALK7, Smad2, Smad4).
  • SB431542, an ALK4/7 inhibitor, reverses Nodal-induced pro-tumorigenic effects.

Conclusions:

  • Nodal functions as an oncogene in bladder cancer.
  • Nodal promotes bladder cancer progression by regulating proliferation, migration, and invasion through the ALK/Smad signaling pathway.
  • Targeting Nodal and the ALK/Smad pathway presents a potential therapeutic strategy for bladder cancer.
Keywords:
ALK4NodalSmad2bladder cancerinvasionmigration

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