Thymus‑expressed chemokine secreted by breast cancer cells promotes metastasis and inhibits apoptosis

Chen,Lu; Zhang,Shuming; Shen,Yaqian; Qi,Linzeng; Zhang,Zhaolin; Tian,Hua; Zou,Zhigeng

doi:10.3892/or.2020.7575

Thymus‑expressed chemokine secreted by breast cancer cells promotes metastasis and inhibits apoptosis

Authors:
- Lu Chen
- Shuming Zhang
- Yaqian Shen
- Linzeng Qi
- Zhaolin Zhang
- Hua Tian
- Zhigeng Zou
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Affiliations: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China, Department of Radiotherapy, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China, Department of Special Examination, Penglai People's Hospital, Penglai, Shandong 265600, P.R. China, Department of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China
Published online on: April 3, 2020 https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2020.7575
Pages: 1875-1884
Copyright: © Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms of thymus‑expressed chemokine (TECK) autocrine signaling, and its effect on carcinogenesis and the development of breast cancer. The present study also assessed epithelial‑mensenchymal transition (EMT) and cell migration, invasion, proliferation and apoptosis. Breast cancer cell lines MCF‑7 and MDA‑MB‑231 were used in the present study, and TECK basic expression in cancer cells was investigated using western blotting (WB). EMT markers, Akt pathway molecules and apoptosis indicators were detected by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR or WB. In order to assess migration and invasion, wound healing and Matrigel invasion assays were performed. Moreover, flow cytometry was used to assess the rate of proliferation and apoptosis. In vivo experiments were conducted in nude mice to assess cancer growth. It was revealed that breast cancer cells could secrete TECK in an autocrine manner. Furthermore, TECK could increase cell migration and invasion by promoting EMT and inhibit apoptosis via the Akt signaling pathway.

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