Effects of targeting SLC1A5 on inhibiting gastric cancer growth and tumor development in vitro and in vivo .

Aims: To investigate the oncogenic effects of SLC1A5 on gastric cancer development in vitro and in vivo .

Methods: The expression level of SLC1A5 was detected in 70 gastric cancer paraffin-embedded tissues by immunohistochemistry and also was detected in gastric cancer cell lines by qRT-PCR and western blotting analysis. The effects of knockdown SLC1A5 were analyzed on cell proliferation, cell cycle, the ability of cell migration and invasion and growth signaling pathway in vitro . By using subcutaneous xenograft mouse, the importance of SLC1A5 expression was assessed for both successful engraftment and growth of gastric cancer cells in vivo .

Results: SLC1A5 was up-regulated in gastric cancer tissues and was correlated with malignant features such as deeper local invasion, higher lymph node metastasis, advanced TNM stages and higher Ki-67 expression. Knockdown SLC1A5 in gastric cancer cells suppressed cell proliferation, caused G0/G1 arrest and inhibited cell invasion as well as migration partly by inactivated mTOR/p-70S6K1 signaling pathway in vitro . Furthermore, in vivo experiments indicated that suppression of SLC1A5 could inhibit relative volume of xenografted tumor.

Conclusions: Our results suggested that SLC1A5 might be considered as a new biomarker and also as a potential therapeutic target in gastric cancer.