Abrogation of RAB27A expression transiently affects melanoma cell proliferation

The role of the small GTPase RAB27A as an essential melanosome trafficking regulator in melanocytes is well-accepted. A decade ago, RAB27A was identified as a tumor dependency gene that promotes melanoma cell proliferation. RAB27A has since been linked to another propeller of cancer progression: exosome secretion. We have recently demonstrated that RAB27A is overexpressed in a subset of melanomas. High RAB27A gene and protein expression correlate with poor prognosis in melanoma patients. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the generation of pro-invasive exosomes was RAB27A-dependent and, therefore, silencing RAB27A reduced melanoma cell invasion in vitro and in vivo. However, previous studies have implicated RAB27A to be involved in both proliferation and invasion of melanoma cells. Employing four human cell lines, stratified by RAB27A expression, and one RAB27A-high mouse cell line, we demonstrate in this study that the effects of abrogating RAB27A expression on proliferation are only temporary, in contrast to our previously reported persistent effects on tumor invasion and metastasis. Therefore, we assist in the dissection of the short-term effects of RAB27A knockdown on melanoma cell proliferation versus long-term effects on melanoma invasion and metastasis. We believe that our findings provide novel insights into the effects of RAB27A blockade.