Short-hairpin RNA-mediated suppression of cortactin may inhibit the migration and invasion abilities of endometrial cancer cells by reducing lamellipodia

Objective(s): The prognosis of endometrial cancer (EC) is significantly affected by tumor infiltration and metastasis. Cortactin (CTTN) regulates infiltration and metastasis in other tumors. Studies on the role and mechanism of CTTN in EC are limited and further studies are needed.Materials and Methods: Quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect Ras-associated C۳ botulinum toxin substrate ۱ (Rac۱) and CTTN in EC and normal tissues. The relationship between the expression of these two genes and their prognostic factors was analyzed. A CTTN-RNAi lentiviral system was constructed and transfected into EC cells. Migration and invasion were evaluated by scratch assay, transwell migration, and invasion assays. Pseudopodia formation was observed by immunofluorescence staining. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of Rac۱.Results: The expression levels of Rac۱ and CTTN in EC tissues were significantly higher than those in normal tissues. In the EC group, Rac۱ and CTTN levels were correlated. The protein expression levels of Rac۱ and CTTN were related to myometrial invasion and stage. After CTTN knockdown, the migration rate, invasiveness, and migratory ability of EC cells decreased significantly. Lamellipodia was observed to disappear with the appearance of blebs. Rac۱ protein expression was decreased after CTTN knockdown.Conclusion: CTTN may promote the invasion and migration of EC by lamellipodia. This effect may be related to the regulation of Rac۱ by CTTN.