MTA1 Is Up-regulated in Colorectal Cancer and Is Inversely Correlated with Lymphatic Metastasis.

BACKGROUND Metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) plays an important role in tumourigenesis and progression of certain cancer types. In the current study, we analyzed the relationship between MTA1 expression and disease progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). MATERIALS AND METHODS CRC tissues (n=93) and adjacent normal colorectal tissues (n=70) were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. MTA1 knockdown was established in RKO and HT115 cells using MTA1 siRNA. RESULTS The expression of MTA1 was significantly increased in CRC tissues compared to paired normal colorectal tissues, but decreased expression of MTA1 was correlated with poor prognosis (higher lymph node involvement stage, TNM stage, local invasion and recurrence) that was associated with increased expression of VEGFC and -D and the receptor VEGFR3. CONCLUSION MTA1 is up-regulated in CRC. MTA1 expression is inversely associated with lymphatic metastases and the expression of VEGFC, VEGFD and VEGFR3.