MiR-206与ANXA2的3′UTR靶向结合抑制乳腺癌侵袭

膜联蛋白A2（annexin A2,ANXA2）可促进人结直肠癌的侵袭和迁移。然而,ANXA2在乳腺癌中的作用以及调节机制尚缺乏系统的研究。本研究旨在探讨微小RNA-206（microRNA-206,miR-206）如何调节ANXA2基因的表达,进而影响乳腺癌的侵袭。通过基因预测软件TargetScan (TargetScan V5.2)找到与ANXA2的3′UTR区互补结合的miR-206。运用实时定量 PCR（qRT-PCR）检测不同乳腺癌细胞系中miR-206的表达水平,发现低侵袭性乳腺癌MCF-7细胞株miR-206 表达量明显高于高侵袭性乳腺癌细胞株MDA-231、MDA-435和T47D。运用转染技术将 miR-206 质粒及miR-206 抑制剂转入乳腺癌细胞系MDA-231后,qRT-PCR检测转染后各组细胞中miR-206的表达情况,结果显示转染成功。用Western印迹法检测各组细胞中ANXA2的表达情况,结果显示,miR-206负向调控ANXA2蛋白的表达。 qRT-PCR显示,过表达乳腺癌细胞内miR-206 后,ANXA2 mRNA基本没有变化。结果显示,miR-206是在翻译水平上影响ANXA2蛋白的表达。荧光素酶实验显示：miR-206能特异性地与ANXA2 mRNA的3′UTR结合,抑制其荧光素酶活性。Transwell侵袭实验检测各组细胞的侵袭能力。结果显示,过表达miR-206后,乳腺癌细胞体外侵袭能力明显减弱。综上所述,miR-206 通过靶向结合癌基因ANXA2 mRNA的3′UTR区,抑制ANXA2蛋白翻译,从而抑制了乳腺癌细胞的侵袭。因此,miR-206有望成为抑制乳腺癌侵袭与治疗乳腺癌的新靶点和生物学标记物。     

针对uPA的siRNA对人乳腺癌细胞侵袭的抑制作用

目的:通过RNA干涉的方法抑制乳腺癌细胞中uPA的表达,观察uPA的表达抑制后对肿瘤细胞的体外侵袭能力的影响。方法:(1)构建可以表达针对uPA的siRNA的干涉载体,转染高侵袭性人乳腺癌细胞系MDA-MB231,G418抗性筛选,挑选单克隆株;(2)分别通过RT-PCR和WesternBlot的方法检测uPA的表达;(3)平板克隆形成试验检测转染前后肿瘤细胞的克隆形成能力;4BovdenchamberAssay检测肿瘤细胞体外侵袭能力。结果:(1)可以稳定表达针对uPA的siRNA的单克隆株,uPA的表达水平显著下降;(2)转染了针对uPA的siRNA的单克隆株的克隆形成能力降低;(3)转染了针对uPA的siRNA的单克隆株体外侵袭能力与原代细胞MDA-MB231相比明显受到抑制。结论:uPA在人乳腺癌侵袭行为中发挥重要的作用,针对uPA的siRNA可以显著降低uPA的表达,从而抑制肿瘤细胞的侵袭,可望成为抗肿瘤侵袭治疗的一种有效手段。     

NUAK1通过影响F-actin聚合促进乳腺癌的侵袭转移

本课题组先前研究证明NUAK1/ARK5参与乳腺癌、胶质瘤侵袭转移,但机制尚不清楚.本文证明,NUAK1通过影响F-actin聚合促进乳腺癌的侵袭转移.应用小RNA干扰技术敲除乳腺癌细胞系MDA-MB-231中的NUAK1,用G418进行稳定筛选,并用Western印迹进行蛋白质表达检测,结果显示,成功敲除MDA-MB-231细胞中的NUAK1;采用Transwell侵袭实验检测NUAK1在乳腺癌细胞侵袭转移中的作用,结果表明,NUAK1被干扰的SiNUAK1/MDA-231细胞的侵袭能力明显减弱;应用免疫荧光法对细胞的F-actin进行荧光染色,半定量F-actin聚合分析结果显示,IGF-1在转染空载的细胞组（Scr/MDA-231）能诱导肌动蛋白短暂的聚合反应,而在敲除NUAK1的细胞组（SiNUAK1/MDA-231）肌动蛋白的聚合显著减少;用细胞因子IGF-1刺激乳腺癌细胞观察cofilin磷酸化,结果显示,在敲除NUAK1的细胞组（SiNUAK1/MDA-231）,IGF-1诱导的cofilin的磷酸化明显受抑制.上述结果表明,NUAK1能通过促进F-actin的聚合从而影响乳腺癌细胞的侵袭转移.     

UHRF1基因在乳腺癌循环肿瘤细胞中的表达研究

外周血液中乳腺循环癌肿瘤细胞的生物表征与转移性乳腺癌的严重程度密切相关,本研究的目的在于结合体外细胞实验探讨UHRF1基因对乳腺癌进展的意义。多重RNA原位分析乳腺癌循环肿瘤细胞(circulating tumor cells,CTCs)中UHRF1的表达;MTT法检测UHRF1基因转染对正常乳腺细胞增殖的影响;蛋白免疫印迹检测UHRF1基因转染对正常乳腺细胞中Bax蛋白和Bcl-2蛋白的影响;Caspase-3检测试剂盒检测正常乳腺细胞中Caspase-3活性;Transwell侵袭实验和划痕愈合实验检测UHRF1基因转染对正常乳腺细胞侵袭和迁移能力的影响。研究发现,UHRF1 RNA水平在乳腺癌循环肿瘤细胞中高表达;UHRF1基因增加正常乳腺细胞增殖率;UHRF1基因降低正常乳腺细胞中Caspase-3活性;UHRF1基因降低正常乳腺细胞中Bax蛋白的表达,增加Bcl-2蛋白的表达;UHRF1基因增强正常乳腺细胞侵袭和迁移能力。本研究初步说明,UHRF1可促进正常乳腺细胞增殖,抑制正常乳腺细胞凋亡,增强正常乳腺细胞侵袭和迁移能力。     

阻断VEGF旁分泌通路抑制乳腺癌血管生成与肿瘤生长

以人乳腺癌细胞株MCF 7为研究对象 ,通过构建有义与反义血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF)基因表达质粒 ,并转染MCF 7细胞 ,建立了高与低水平表达VEGF的细胞克隆。稳定转染反义VEGF表达质粒的细胞产生和分泌VEGF的能力明显下降 ,尽管在体外培养条件下细胞的增殖速度与未经转染的对照相比不是减慢而是略有增快 ,但在体内的成瘤能力、生长速度和转移能力等却明显低于未经转染的对照细胞或稳定转染有义VEGF表达质粒高水平表达VEGF的细胞克隆。通过体内电穿孔技术介导反义VEGF12 1及可溶性VEGF受体sFlk 1表达质粒转移至荷瘤鼠肿瘤组织内 ,反义VEGF12 1及sFlk 1的表达能显著抑制肿瘤的生长。研究结果证实了VEGF旁分泌通路在诱导乳腺癌肿瘤血管生成、促进肿瘤生长和转移方面起重要作用 ,阻断VEGF旁分泌通路能有效抑制乳腺癌的生长     

纤黏连蛋白重组多肽CH50抑制黑色素瘤MMP-2和MMP-9表达、激活的研究

目的 研究纤黏连蛋白重组多肽CH50对黑色素瘤B16细胞侵袭能力的影响,探讨CH50多肽抑制肿瘤生长、侵袭的机制。方法 体外培养小鼠黑色素瘤B16细胞、小鼠腿部皮下注射B16细胞建立肿瘤动物模型。采用明胶电泳法检测B16细胞和黑色素瘤组织中基质金属蛋白酶MMP-2和MMP-9的表达和激活;以CH50多肽体外处理B16细胞或体内表达CH50,观察CH50下调MMPs表达以及对肿瘤细胞侵袭能力的抑制作用。结果 B16细胞在体外培养条件下主要表达MMP-2,而在肿瘤微环境中则同时表达MMP-2和MMP-9。肿瘤组织中MMPs的表达明显高于体外培养B16细胞。CH50多肽对体外培养B16细胞的MMPs表达和激活无明显抑制作用,但处理后的B16细胞进入体内后表达MMPs的能力受到明显抑制。体内转染表达的CHSO多肽亦可明显抑制肿瘤表达MMPs、并抑制肿瘤侵袭能力。结论 纤黏连蛋白重组多肽CHSO可以抑制肿瘤微环境中基质金属蛋白酶MMP-2和MMP-9的表达和激活,从而抑制黑色素瘤生长及侵袭能力。     

组织特异性启动子介导的反义FGF8b RNA对前列腺癌细胞生长增殖能力的影响

利用启动子的组织特异性和治疗基因组织特异表达的特点 ,设计出前列腺癌靶向基因治疗的新方案 .利用DNA重组技术将前列腺组织特异性启动子 (probasin基因启动子 )和在前列腺癌细胞中高表达成纤维细胞生长因子 (FGF) 8b反义cDNA克隆到逆转录病毒载体pSIR中构建成重组体PB 反义FGF8b pSIR .经转染包装细胞PT 6 7后将产生的复制缺陷型逆转录病毒体外感染前列腺癌细胞系PC 3M ,体外检测其生长增殖和侵袭转移能力的变化 .结果表明 ,与对照组相比 ,前列腺癌细胞感染产生反义FGF8bRNA的逆转录病毒后生长速度减慢 ,集落形成能力下降 ,体外侵袭转移能力降低 (P <0 0 1) .体外试验表明 ,前列腺组织特异性启动子介导的反义FGF8bRNA可有效降低前列腺癌细胞的体外生长增殖和转移能力 ,这为体内靶向前列腺癌基因治疗奠定了可靠的基础 .     

二氢杨梅素抑制人乳腺癌细胞侵袭和下调MMP-2/-9蛋白表达研究

藤茶活性成分二氢杨梅素(3, 5, 7, 3′, 4′, 5′-六羟基-2, 3-二氢黄酮醇,DMY)体外对几种癌细胞具有抗增殖作用,但机制尚未完全清楚．本文研究DMY对人高转移型乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞侵袭的影响,并探讨可能的机制．用MTT法检测DMY对MDA-MB-231细胞的增殖抑制率;明胶酶谱分析明胶酶活力;基质金属蛋白酶(MMP-2/-9)的基因表达水平和蛋白质表达水平分别利用实时定量PCR和Western blot分析进行检测．Transwell模型检测DMY对肿瘤细胞侵袭的影响．结果显示,DMY以剂量依赖方式抑制MDA-MB-231细胞的增殖,作用48 h的IC50为73.6 mg/L．DMY显著抑制明胶酶活性和MMP-2/-9蛋白表达,并抑制MMP-2/-9 的mRNA表达水平．此外,DMY不依赖细胞毒作用和以剂量依赖方式抑制MDA- MB-231细胞的侵袭．这些结果提示：DMY能显著抑制人乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞的侵袭和增殖, 其侵袭抑制的机制可能与其下调MMP-2/-9蛋白表达水平相关．     

Sec23a基因对人乳腺癌类肿瘤干细胞的干性抑制作用研究

该文使用新型悬浮细胞连续培养法从人乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-435中分离出类肿瘤干细胞株(MDA-435-spheroid enrichment,MDA-435-SE),并通过流式细胞术检测细胞表面标志物以及裸鼠皮下成瘤实验,对MDA-435-SE细胞的类肿瘤干细胞特性进行了验证。然后对MDA-435-SE细胞进行慢病毒感染,建立了稳定敲低Sec23a基因表达的细胞株MDA-435-SE-sh Sec23a和阴性对照细胞株MDA-435-SE-LV3NC,通过Cell Counting Kit-8增殖实验、96孔板单克隆成球实验和裸鼠皮下成瘤实验探索Sec23a基因对乳腺癌类肿瘤干细胞MDA-435-SE的干性调控作用。在乳腺癌类肿瘤干细胞MDA-435-SE中敲低Sec23a基因后,细胞的增殖曲线和倍增时间并没有明显改变,但细胞的体外成球直径和单细胞克隆效率均显著增强。动物实验表明,Sec23a基因的敲低可以显著提高乳腺癌类肿瘤干细胞MDA-435-SE的体内成瘤能力。该研究使用新型悬浮细胞连续培养的方法获得来源于人乳腺癌的类肿瘤干细胞株,并使用体内和体外干性相关实验验证了敲低Sec23a基因后,可以显著提高乳腺癌类肿瘤干细胞MDA-435-SE的干性,对肿瘤干细胞的研究具有重要的参考意义。     

中介蝮蛇毒纤溶酶基因真核表达载体的构建及其功能的研究

目的:蛇毒纤维蛋白溶解酶能直接溶解纤维蛋白或纤维蛋白原,在心脑血管疾病的治疗方面具有潜在的应用价值。方法:采用双酶切技术从pMD18T-FLE I克隆载体上获得中介蝮蛇毒纤溶酶基因编码区,再将其亚克隆到真核表达载体pFASTBACHTa上,经转化、筛选和鉴定,获得重组真核表达质粒pFASTBACHTa-FLE。重组质粒经小鼠尾静脉快速注入小鼠体内,进行瞬时表达。结果:经SDS-PAGE和Western blot检测,表明在小鼠肝脏组织中有重组FLE蛋白表达。免疫组织化学检测证明该蛋白在小鼠肝脏组织中大量表达。纤维蛋白平板法鉴定该重组蛋白具有较高的纤溶活性,其活性呈现出剂量相关性和时间依赖性。因此为进一步对中介蝮蛇毒纤溶酶的应用奠定了坚实的基础。     

Reduction in Surface Urokinase Receptor Forces Malignant Cells into a Protracted State of Dormancy

Considerable evidence links urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) bound to its surface receptor (uPAR) with enhanced invasiveness of cancer cells. By blocking uPAR expression in human epidermoid carcinoma cells (HEp3), we have now identified an additional and novel in vivo function for this receptor by showing that receptor-deficient cells enter a state of dormancy reminiscent of that observed in human cancer metastasis. Its main characteristic is survival without signs of progressive growth. Five clones transfected with a vector expressing uPAR antisense RNA under the β-actin promoter were isolated and shown to have uPAR (at the mRNA and protein levels) reduced by 50 to 80%; four clones, transfected with vector alone and having uPAR levels similar to those of parental cells, served as controls. In confirmation of our previous results, reduced uPAR always coincided with a significantly reduced invasiveness. Each of the control clones produced rapidly growing, highly metastatic tumors within 2 wk of inoculation on chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs) of chick embryos. In contrast, each of the clones with low surface uPAR, whose proliferation rate in culture was indistinguishable from controls, remained dormant for up to 5 mo when inoculated on CAMs. Thus, the reduction in uPAR altered the phenotype of HEp3 tumor cells from tumorigenic to dormant. Although protracted, tumor dormancy was not permanent since in spite of maintaining low uPAR levels, each of the in vivo–passaged antisense clones eventually reemerged from dormancy to initiate progressive growth and to form metastases at a level of 20 to 90% of that of fully malignant control. This observation suggested that other factors, whose expression is dependent on cumulative and prolonged in vivo effects, can compensate for the lack of a full complement of surface uPAR required for the expression of malignant properties. These “reemerged,” uPAR-deficient clones were easily distinguishable from the vector-transfected controls by the fact that after only 1 wk in culture, the invasion of CAM by all five clones and tumorigenicity of four of the five clones were reduced back to the values observed before in vivo maintenance. In contrast, dissociated and in vitro–grown cells of control tumors were fully invasive and produced large, metastatic tumors when reinoculated on CAMs. Quantitation of the percent of apoptotic and S-phase cells in vivo, in the control and uPAR-deficient, dormant clones, showed that the mechanism responsible for the dormancy was a diminished proliferation.     

Urokinase plasminogen activator/urokinase-specific surface receptor expression and matrix invasion by breast cancer cells requires constitutive p38alpha mitogen-activated protein kinase activity

Overexpression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) has been well documented in a wide variety of tumor cells. In breast cancer, expression of uPA/uPAR is essential for tumor cell invasion and metastasis. However, the mechanism responsible for uPA/uPAR expression in cancer cells remains unclear. In the studies reported here, we show that endogenous p38 MAPK activity correlates well with breast carcinoma cell invasiveness. Treatment of highly invasive BT549 cells with a specific p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 diminished both uPA/uPAR mRNA and protein expression and abrogated the ability of these cells to invade matrigel, suggesting that p38 MAPK signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of uPA/uPAR expression and breast cancer cell invasion. We also demonstrated that SB203580-induced reduction in uPA/uPAR mRNA expression resulted from the de- stabilization of uPA and uPAR mRNA. Finally, by selectively inhibiting p38alpha or p38beta MAPK isoforms, we demonstrate that p38alpha, rather than p38beta, MAPK activity is essential for uPA/uPAR expression. These studies suggest that p38alpha MAPK signaling pathway is important for the maintenance of breast cancer invasive phenotype by promoting the stabilities of uPA and uPAR mRNA.     

Specific interference of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor and matrix metalloproteinase-9 gene expression induced by double-stranded RNA results in decreased invasion, tumor growth, and angiogenesis in gliomas

We have previously demonstrated the effectiveness of adenovirus-mediated expression of antisense urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in inhibiting tumor invasion in vitro and ex vivo. However, the therapeutic effect of the adenovirus-mediated antisense approach was shown to be transient and required potentially toxic, high viral doses. In contrast, RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene targeting may be superior to the traditional antisense approach, because the target mRNA is completely degraded and the molar ratio of siRNA required to degrade the target mRNA is very low. Here, we have examined the siRNA-mediated target RNA degradation of uPAR and MMP-9 in human glioma cell lines. Using RNAi directed toward uPAR and MMP-9, we achieved specific inhibition of uPAR and MMP-9. This bicistronic construct (pUM) inhibited the formation of capillary-like structures in both in vitro and in vivo models of angiogenesis. We demonstrated that blocking the expression of these genes results in significant inhibition of glioma tumor invasion in Matrigel and spheroid invasion assay models. RNAi for uPAR and MMP-9 inhibited cell proliferation, and significantly reduced the levels of phosphorylated forms of MAPK, ERK, and AKT signaling pathway molecules when compared with parental and empty vector/scrambled vector-transfected SNB19 cells. Furthermore, using RNAi to simultaneously target two proteases resulted in total regression of pre-established intracerebral tumor growth. Our results provide evidence that the use of hairpin siRNA expression vectors for uPAR and MMP-9 may provide an effective tool for cancer therapy.     

Deoxycholic acid activates beta-catenin signaling pathway and increases colon cell cancer growth and invasiveness

Colorectal cancer is often lethal when invasion and/or metastasis occur. Tumor progression to the metastatic phenotype is mainly dependent on tumor cell invasiveness. Secondary bile acids, particularly deoxycholic acid (DCA), are implicated in promoting colon cancer growth and progression. Whether DCA modulates beta-catenin and promotes colon cancer cell growth and invasiveness remains unknown. Because beta-catenin and its target genes urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and cyclin D1 are overexpressed in colon cancers, and are linked to cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis, we investigated whether DCA activates beta-catenin signaling and promotes colon cancer cell growth and invasiveness. Our results show that low concentrations of DCA (5 and 50 microM) significantly increase tyrosine phosphorylation of beta-catenin, induce urokinase-type plasminogen activator, uPAR, and cyclin D1 expression and enhance colon cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness. These events are associated with a substantial loss of E-cadherin binding to beta-catenin. Inhibition of beta-catenin with small interfering RNA significantly reduced DCA-induced uPAR and cyclin D1 expression. Blocking uPAR with a neutralizing antibody significantly suppressed DCA-induced colon cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness. These findings provide evidence for a novel mechanism underlying the oncogenic effects of secondary bile acids.     

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha regulates lung adenocarcinoma cell invasion

We studied the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in human lung adenocarcinoma cell invasion using a metastatic cell model composed of low invasive CL1 and highly invasive CL1-5 cells. We showed that HIF-1alpha was expressed in CL1-5 but not in CL1 cells under normoxic condition, and that inhibition of HIF-1alpha expression by a small interfering RNA decreased invasiveness of CL1-5 cells. Complementary, overexpression of HIF-1alpha increased the invasiveness of CL1 and gastric cancer SC-M1 cells. Subsequently, we showed that urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 1 and 2 were critical in HIF-1alpha-induced invasion. Mechanistic studies revealed that HIF-1alpha overexpression could increase the expression of uPAR and MMP1, but not MMP2. However, ELISA assays on the conditioned media generated from control CL1 and CL1 cells overexpressing HIF-1alpha showed that overexpression of HIF-1alpha increased the levels of endogenous free active MMP2 and total free MMP2, and the former was blocked by inhibition of MMP1 expression. We conclude that (i) HIF-1alpha overexpression enhances lung cancer cell invasion at least through up-regulating the expression and activities of uPAR, MMP1, and MMP2; and (ii) induction of MMP1 participates in cell invasion and also plays an important role in HIF-1alpha-induced activation of MMP2.     

Invasiveness of transformed human breast epithelial cell lines is related to cathepsin B and inhibited by cysteine proteinase inhibitors

The activities'of the lysosomal cysteine proteinases cathepsin B and L are regulated by their endogenous inhibitors, stefins A and B, and cystatin C, and their imbalance may be associated with increased invasiveness and development of the malignant cell phenotype. The aim of this study was to investigate mRNA, protein and activity levels of the above proteins in relation to in vitro invasiveness and to the reported in vivo tumorigenicity of four human breast tumor cell lines: the spontaneously immortalized cell line MCF10A, its c-Ha-ras transfectant MCF10AT, and two tumorigenic derivative cell lines, MCF10AT-Ca1a and MCF10AT-Ca1d. Invasiveness did not correlate with tumorigenicity, since the MCF10AT cell was the most invasive and the remaining three were at about half of its level. Cathepsin B expression paralleled the in vitro invasiveness through matrigel at all levels of expression, but cathepsin L did not. Stefin levels were elevated several-fold in the tumorigenic cell lines, but not in MCF10AT. The hypothesis that cathepsin B plays an active role in the invasion of breast cancer cell lines was confirmed by the fact that synthetic cysteine proteinase inhibitors, particularly those selective for cathepsin B, significantly reduced the invasion of the MCF10AT cells.     

Gelsolin Induces Colorectal Tumor Cell Invasion via Modulation of the Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Cascade

Gelsolin is a cytoskeletal protein which participates in actin filament dynamics and promotes cell motility and plasticity. Although initially regarded as a tumor suppressor, gelsolin expression in certain tumors correlates with poor prognosis and therapy-resistance. In vitro, gelsolin has anti-apoptotic and pro-migratory functions and is critical for invasion of some types of tumor cells. We found that gelsolin was highly expressed at tumor borders infiltrating into adjacent liver tissues, as examined by immunohistochemistry. Although gelsolin contributes to lamellipodia formation in migrating cells, the mechanisms by which it induces tumor invasion are unclear. Gelsolin's influence on the invasive activity of colorectal cancer cells was investigated using overexpression and small interfering RNA knockdown. We show that gelsolin is required for invasion of colorectal cancer cells through matrigel. Microarray analysis and quantitative PCR indicate that gelsolin overexpression induces the upregulation of invasion-promoting genes in colorectal cancer cells, including the matrix-degrading urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). Conversely, gelsolin knockdown reduces uPA levels, as well as uPA secretion. The enhanced invasiveness of gelsolin-overexpressing cells was attenuated by treatment with function-blocking antibodies to either uPA or its receptor uPAR, indicating that uPA/uPAR activity is crucial for gelsolin-dependent invasion. In summary, our data reveals novel functions of gelsolin in colorectal tumor cell invasion through its modulation of the uPA/uPAR cascade, with potentially important roles in colorectal tumor dissemination to metastatic sites.     

Mannose 6-Phosphate/Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 Receptor Limits Cell Invasion by Controlling αVβ3 Integrin Expression and Proteolytic Processing of Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Receptor

The multifunctional mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (M6P/IGF2R) is considered a tumor suppressor. We report here that RNA interference with M6P/IGF2R expression in urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expressing human cancer and endothelial cells resulted in increased pericellular plasminogen activation, cell adhesion, and higher invasive potential through matrigel. M6P/IGF2R silencing led also to the cell surface accumulation of urokinase and plasminogen and enhanced expression of αV integrins. Genetic rescue experiments and inhibitor studies revealed that the enhanced plasminogen activation was due to a direct effect of M6P/IGF2R on uPAR, whereas increased cell adhesion to vitronectin was dependent on αV integrin expression and not uPAR. Increased cell invasion of M6P/IGF2R knockdown cells was rescued by cosilencing both uPAR and αV integrin. Furthermore, we found that M6P/IGF2R expression accelerates the cleavage of uPAR. M6P/IGF2R silencing resulted in an increased ratio of full-length uPAR to the truncated D2D3 fragment, incapable of binding most uPAR ligands. We conclude that M6P/IGF2R controls cell invasion by regulating αV integrin expression and by accelerating uPAR cleavage, leading to the loss of the urokinase/vitronectin/integrin-binding site on uPAR.