Open Access

Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase serves as a poor prognosis marker and therapeutic target in osteosarcoma

  • Authors:
    • Salim F.A. Jeddo
    • Xianfu Wei
    • Ka Li
    • Xin Li
    • Qiang Yang
    • Samina Dongol
    • Jianmin Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 13, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2020.7686
  • Pages: 1037-1048
  • Copyright: © Jeddo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignancy of bones and frequently affects young children and adolescents. There are several challenges associated with treating osteosarcoma owing to the aggressiveness of the disease, as well as the risk of chemoresistance. Numerous studies are being performed with the aim of identifying improved prognostic and therapeutic markers for this malignancy. Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) is an oncogene that has been studied in several types of cancer in recent years. In the present study, the expression of MELK in osteosarcoma and normal tissue samples was examined, and the effects of MELK expression on osteosarcoma cellular proliferation, metastasis, the cell cycle and apoptosis were demonstrated using CCK‑8, wound healing, migration and invasion and apoptosis assays. The role of MELK in cancer progression in osteosarcoma was determined, revealing the association between MELK expression and prognosis of osteosarcoma. It was demonstrated that knockdown of MELK resulted in reduced proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro along with potentiation of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, the effect of the targeted MELK inhibitor, OTSSP167, on tumor progression of osteosarcoma in vitro and in vivo was assessed. Mechanistically, it was demonstrated that MELK promoted osteosarcoma proliferation and metastasis by regulating PCNA and MMP9 expression via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Thus, the present study revealed the oncogenic role played by MELK, and established MELK as a valuable prognostic and therapeutic marker in osteosarcoma.
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September-2020
Volume 44 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Jeddo SF, Wei X, Li K, Li X, Yang Q, Dongol S and Li J: Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase serves as a poor prognosis marker and therapeutic target in osteosarcoma. Oncol Rep 44: 1037-1048, 2020.
APA
Jeddo, S.F., Wei, X., Li, K., Li, X., Yang, Q., Dongol, S., & Li, J. (2020). Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase serves as a poor prognosis marker and therapeutic target in osteosarcoma. Oncology Reports, 44, 1037-1048. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2020.7686
MLA
Jeddo, S. F., Wei, X., Li, K., Li, X., Yang, Q., Dongol, S., Li, J."Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase serves as a poor prognosis marker and therapeutic target in osteosarcoma". Oncology Reports 44.3 (2020): 1037-1048.
Chicago
Jeddo, S. F., Wei, X., Li, K., Li, X., Yang, Q., Dongol, S., Li, J."Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase serves as a poor prognosis marker and therapeutic target in osteosarcoma". Oncology Reports 44, no. 3 (2020): 1037-1048. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2020.7686