AUTHOR=Tang De-Rong , Li Cheng-Lin , Xu Ke-Ping , Wu Qing-Quan , Chen Qi-You , Lv Jun-Jie , Ji Jian , Zang Bao , Chen Chen , Gu Biao , Zhao Jian-Qiang TITLE=Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor Promotes the Growth and Migration of Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology VOLUME=9 YEAR=2020 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2019.01520 DOI=10.3389/fonc.2019.01520 ISSN=2234-943X ABSTRACT=

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is an oncogene found in various types of cancers. However, how PEDF affects the development of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is unknown. This study investigates the role of PEDF in ESCC cell proliferation, migration, and cell cycle both in vitro and in vivo. The PEDF expression was examined in patient tumor samples and ESCC cell lines. Short hairpin RNA technology was used to inhibit the PEDF expression in ESCC EC9706 and KYSE150 cells. In vitro cell proliferation and migration assays were performed. The effects of PEDF on tumor growth and progression were examined in vivo in murine subcutaneous xenograft tumor models. It was found that PEDF was overexpressed in esophageal cancer cells and patient tumor tissues compared to normal control samples. PEDF enhanced cell cycle progression and inhibited cell apoptosis. Knock down of PEDF inhibited esophageal cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Moreover, Inhibition of PEDF significantly reduced tumor growth and tumor size in vivo. These results indicate that PEDF induce tumorigenesis in ESCC and can be a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment.