Background and aims: Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) has been reported as an important molecule in various types of cancers. The biological function of COMT in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not yet been fully investigated.
Methods: We constructed a transient transfection of a CRC cell lines to up- and downregulate COMT expression level and tested the proliferative, invasion ability in vitro. We also constructed a stable transduced CRC cell line and conducted tumor-forming capacity experiment in mouse xenograft model in vivo.
Results: In vitro experiment showed that COMT inhibited the cell proliferation by regulating p-Akt, PTEN and inhibited G1 to S phase transition by regulating p53, p27, and cyclinD1. COMT inhibited invasion by regulating E-cadherin. In vivo experiment showed decreased tumor growth in COMT overexpressing cell line.
Conclusions: COMT has tumor-suppressive functions for CRC cell lines in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Keywords: COMT; Catechol-O-Methyltransferase; Colorectal cancer; Xenograft model.
Copyright © 2015 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.