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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Photostimulation by Femtosecond Laser Activates Extracellular-signal-regulated Kinase ERK Signaling or Mitochondrial Events in Target Cells
11:00

Photostimulation by Femtosecond Laser Activates Extracellular-signal-regulated Kinase ERK Signaling or Mitochondrial Events in Target Cells

Published on: July 6, 2019

7.2K

NIMA related kinase 2 promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation via ERK/MAPK signaling

Wei-Dong Fan1, Tao Chen2, Peng-Jun Liu3

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University, Zhangjiagang 215600, Jiangsu Province, China.

World Journal of Gastroenterology
|June 29, 2019
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

NIMA related kinase 2 (NEK2) promotes gastric cancer (GC) cell proliferation by activating the ERK/MAPK pathway. Targeting NEK2 may improve patient survival in GC.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular oncology
  • Cancer signaling pathways

Background:

  • NIMA related kinase 2 (NEK2) is frequently over-expressed in cancers with poor prognoses.
  • The role of NEK2 in gastric cancer (GC) signaling remains unclear.
  • NEK2's association with mitosis suggests a potential role in cell proliferation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the role of NEK2 up-regulation in gastric cancer.
  • To investigate the impact of NEK2 on cellular signaling and proliferation in GC.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of NEK2 expression in GC tissues using the Oncomain database and clinical samples.
  • Co-expression analysis of NEK2 and ERK using TCGA and qRT-PCR.
  • Investigation of NEK2's effect on ERK/MAPK signaling components (ERK, c-JUN, cyclin D1) and GC cell proliferation assays.

Main Results:

  • NEK2 is significantly up-regulated in human GC tissues.
  • NEK2 overexpression correlates with ERK expression and predicts poor prognosis in GC patients.
  • NEK2 knockdown inhibits ERK/MAPK signaling and cell proliferation; NEK2 can rescue ERK knockdown-induced inhibition.

Conclusions:

  • NEK2 promotes malignant proliferation in GC cells through the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway.
  • Targeting NEK2 represents a potential therapeutic strategy for improving GC patient survival.
Keywords:
Cell proliferationCyclin D1ERK/MAPK signalingGastric cancerNIMA related kinase 2

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