线粒体分裂蛋白FIS1通过诱导上皮间质转化促进肝癌侵袭与迁移

目的:研究线粒体分裂蛋白1(Mitochondrial fission protein 1,FIS1)介导的线粒体分裂对肝癌细胞侵袭与迁移的调控作用与机制。方法:采用免疫组化实验比较10对肝癌原发灶与转移灶组织中FIS1表达,以明确FIS1与肝癌转移的关系。通过si RNA干扰FIS1的表达后,用Transwell实验检测肝癌细胞迁移与侵袭能力的变化,q PCR与Western Blot检测上皮间质转化标志分子上皮型钙黏蛋白(epithelia cadherin,E-cadherin)、紧密连接蛋白(zonula occludens-1,ZO-1)、神经型钙黏蛋白(neural cadherin,N-cadherin)、波形蛋白Vimentin的表达。结果:肝癌转移灶组织中FIS1的表达显著高于原发灶组织。干扰FIS1表达后,肝癌细胞迁移和侵袭能力均明显下降,细胞上皮间质转化标志蛋白E-cadherin和ZO-1的表达上调,而N-cadherin和Vimentin的表达下调。结论:线粒体分裂蛋白FIS1在肝癌转移灶组织中高表达,并可能通过调节细胞上皮间质转化促进肝癌细胞转移。     

幽门螺杆菌致炎症微环境促进结肠癌SW620细胞发生EMT

该文探讨了幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacter pylori, HP)炎症微环境对结肠癌SW620细胞发生上皮-间质转化(epithelial mesenchymal transformation, EMT)的影响。使用ELISA方法检测HP干预U937细胞后上清中炎症因子MIF、IL-1β等的变化;采用RT-PCR方法检测MIF、IL-1β、NF-κB基因水平的变化;细胞划痕实验检测炎症上清处理SW620细胞后SW620细胞的侵袭迁移能力; CCK-8方法检测HP处理U937细胞后炎症上清对SW620细胞增殖活性的影响;免疫荧光实验检测炎症上清处理SW620细胞后SW620细胞EMT相关蛋白Vimentin的荧光变化; Western blot实验检测脂多糖(LPS)上清干预SW620细胞后EMT相关蛋白Vimentin、E-cadherin和N-cadherin的变化; Western blot实验检测HP干预U937细胞后NF-κB蛋白,炎症上清处理SW620细胞后EMT相关蛋白Vimentin、E-cadherin和N-cadherin的变化。结果显示, HP干预U937细胞后引起巨噬细胞移动抑制因子(MIF)、白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)和NF-κB等相关炎症因子及基因表达升高; CCK-8结果表明HP干预U937细胞后, U937细胞毒性增强;划痕实验结果表明在12 h、24 h、36 h时,随着时间点的推移, SW620细胞的侵袭迁移能力有所增强;免疫荧光实验结果显示SW620细胞Vimentin绿色点状聚集显著增加; Western blot结果显示在16 h、24 h时间点U937细胞NF-κB蛋白表达明显升高; LPS上清干预SW620细胞后Vimentin蛋白表达无明显变化,N-cadherin蛋白24 h组表达减少, E-cadherin蛋白增多, HP炎症微环境上清干预SW620细胞后12 h、24 h、36 h时,随着时间点推移SW620细胞Vimentin蛋白表达显著增加, E-cadherin和N-cadherin蛋白表达显著减少。该实验研究结果表明,幽门螺杆菌致炎症微环境可以促进SW620细胞发生EMT。     

FOXG1在结直肠癌侵袭及转移中的作用及机制

构建叉头框G1(Forkhead box G1,FOXG1)的慢病毒干扰(shRNA)质粒及表达质粒,通过敲低和过表达FOXG1探讨其对结直肠癌细胞上皮-间质转化EMT的作用及其机制。应用Western blotting检测FOXG1在RKO、SW480、SW620、LOVO、DLD-1五种结直肠癌细胞中蛋白的表达水平,设计并合成FOXG1的shRNA片段(shFOXG1),运用DNA重组技术获得重组质粒,经双酶切技术及测序方法鉴定后进行慢病毒的包装、纯化及稳定转染,经筛选后获得稳定的结直肠癌细胞株,通过Western blotting和qRT-PCR技术检测FOXG1敲低和过表达效率及EMT关键因子E-cadherin、Vimentin、Fibronectin、Snail、Twist mRNA和蛋白的变化,光学显微镜观察敲低后细胞形态学变化,通过划痕实验检测迁移能力变化,Transwell检测侵袭迁移能力的变化。5种结直肠癌细胞中,FOXG1在RKO细胞中蛋白表达量最高,而在DLD-1细胞中表达量最低,与对照组相比较,在RKO细胞中敲低FOXG1,细胞形态由长梭型变成了类圆形或者多边形,细胞极性和紧密连接增加,细胞迁移距离明显降低,侵袭转移穿过小室的细胞数也明显减少,EMT关键因子E-cadherin表达增高,Vimentin、Fibronectin、Snail、Twist表达降低,过表达FOXG1组则相反。FOXG1在结直肠癌中高表达,这种基因的高表达能够促进结直肠癌细胞的侵袭和转移,对结直肠癌细胞的EMT起着重要的调控作用。     

HPV16E7的表达对宫颈癌变过程中CD163+巨噬细胞的浸润及上皮间质转化的影响

目的 研究人乳头瘤病毒16E7(HPV16E7)、上皮间质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)“cadherin switch”标记物E-cadherin、N-cadherin,及肿瘤相关巨噬细胞(tumor-associated macrophages,TAMs)标记CD163在宫颈癌变过程中的表达情况,探讨在不同的HPV16E7表达情况下,上皮间质转化程度及肿瘤相关巨噬细胞浸润的差异及二者之间的关系。方法 通过免疫组化法检测宫颈鳞状细胞癌、高级别上皮内瘤变(CINII-III)、低级别上皮内瘤变(CINI)及慢性宫颈炎患者的HPV16E7、E-cadherin、N-cadherin、CD163的表达情况。结果 E-cadherin的表达随着宫颈癌变的进展逐渐降低,N-cadherin的表达以及CD163+巨噬细胞数量随着宫颈病变的进展逐渐升高。慢性宫颈炎、CINI、CINII-III及宫颈鳞状细胞癌的HPV16E7阳性组和阴性组比较中,E-cadherin的表达在CINII-III及宫颈鳞状细胞癌中HPV16E7阳性组明显低于阴性组;N-cadherin的表达在宫颈鳞状细胞癌中HPV16E7阳性组明显高于阴性组;CD163+巨噬细胞数目在CINI、CINII-III及宫颈鳞状细胞癌中HPV16E7阳性组明显高于阴性组。进一步统计CD163+巨噬细胞与上皮间质转化间关系后发现,宫颈癌变过程中,随着CD163+巨噬细胞数目的增多,E-cadherin的表达逐渐降低,无论HPV16E7的表达如何,二者均呈负相关关系;宫颈鳞状细胞癌中,随着CD163+巨噬细胞数目的增多,N-cadherin的表达逐渐增加,HPV16E7阳性组二者仍呈正相关关系,而HPV16E7阴性组无明显相关关系。结论 HPV16E7可能通过肿瘤相关巨噬细胞来调节上皮间质转化的“cadherin switch”,从而促进宫颈癌的癌变。     

舒芬太尼通过调控LncRNA PSMA3-AS1对结肠癌SW1116细胞增殖、迁移及侵袭的影响

该文旨在探讨舒芬太尼对结肠癌SW1116细胞增殖、迁移及侵袭的影响及其可能作用机制。体外培养人结肠癌细胞SW1116,并将其随机分组:对照组、低舒芬太尼组、中舒芬太尼组、高舒芬太尼组、si-NC组、si-LncRNA PSMA3-AS1组、高舒芬太尼+pcDNA组、高舒芬太尼+pcDNA-LncRNA PSMA3-AS1组。CCK-8法和克隆形成实验检测细胞增殖; Transwell检测细胞迁移及侵袭; qRT-PCR法检测LncRNA PSMA3-AS1表达水平; Western blot检测E-cadherin、N-cadherin蛋白表达。低、中、高舒芬太尼处理或下调LncRNA PSMA3-AS1表达后,结肠癌SW1116细胞存活率、LncRNA PSMA3-AS1表达量和N-cadherin水平降低(P<0.05),细胞克隆形成数、迁移、侵袭细胞数减少(P<0.05), E-cadherin水平升高(P<0.05);上调LncRNA PSMA3-AS1表达可导致高舒芬太尼对结肠癌SW1116细胞增殖、克隆形成、迁移及侵袭的影响降低。舒芬太尼可通过下调LncR...     

RNA干扰HIF-1α影响宫颈癌HeLa细胞上皮细胞间质变标记蛋白的研究

目的 通过RNA干扰技术沉默人宫颈癌HeLa细胞缺氧诱导因子-1α（hypoxia inducible factor-1α,HIF-1α）的表达,在细胞水平研究HIF-1α对宫颈癌HeLa细胞上皮细胞-间质变标记蛋白（E-cadherin,N-cadherin,vimentin）表达的影响.方法 将人宫颈癌HeLa细胞株（H0细胞）、转染pGenesil-1空白质粒的HeLa细胞株（H1细胞）及转染HIF-1α-shRNA质粒的HeLa细胞株（H2细胞）分别行常氧及缺氧（150 μmol/L CoCl2培养12 h）培养,应用Western印迹、免疫细胞化学法检测每组HeLa细胞中HIF-1α、上皮标记蛋白E-cadherin、间质标记蛋白vimentin、N-cadherin的表达情况.结果 Western印迹分析各缺氧组HIF-1α、E-cadherin、vimentin及N-cadherin的平均光密度值,免疫细胞化学显示H0细胞、H1细胞缺氧时HIF-1α、N-cadherin、vimentin蛋白高表达,而E-cadherin低表达,H2细胞在乏氧时HIF-1α、N-cadherin、vimentin蛋白表达显著减弱,而E-cadherin高表达.结论 通过shRNA干扰抑制人宫颈癌HeLa细胞HIF-1α,可一定程度上抑制乏氧环境中宫颈癌HeLa细胞上皮细胞-间质变.     

肝星形细胞分泌的趋化因子CXCL1在肝癌转归中的作用

该文探讨了人肝星形细胞(hepatic stellate cells,HSC)对肝癌细胞(Hep G2、SMMC-7721)的迁移、侵袭能力和上皮–间质转化(epithelial-msenchymal transition,EMT)的影响及其机制。采用条件培养法培养肝癌细胞,利用细胞划痕和Transwell实验分析肝星形细胞对肝癌细胞的迁移和侵袭作用。Western blot分析肝星形细胞自身及其分泌到培养液中趋化因子CXCL1[chemokine(C-X-C motif)ligand 1]和肝癌细胞的CXCL1受体2—CXCR2(CXCL1 receptor 2)的表达量,以及条件培养下肝癌细胞中p-PI3K、p-AKT、p-GSK-3β和Snail的表达变化。激光共聚焦显微术和Western blot检测肝癌细胞上皮标志物E-cadherin、间质标志物N-cadherin和Vimentin的表达变化。结果显示,在HSC中大量表达并分泌趋化因子CXCL1,而肝癌细胞Hep G2、SMMC-7721中高表达CXCR2。肝癌细胞通过条件培养后,细胞形态改变,细胞黏附下降,细胞迁移和侵袭能力增强,上皮标志物E-cadherin蛋白表达下调、间质标志物N-cadherin蛋白和Vimentin蛋白表达上调,PI3K/AKT信号通路中的关键成员PI3K和AKT磷酸化水平上调,p-GSK-3β和转录因子Snail表达上调。在肝癌细胞条件培养下加入CXCR2受体的特异性抑制剂(SB265610)后,肝癌细胞上皮标志物E-cadherin蛋白表达上调、间质标志物N-cadherin蛋白和Vimentin蛋白表达下调,p-PI3K、p-AKT、p-GSK-3β和Snail的表达下调。以上结果说明,肝星形细胞可能通过CXCL1/CXCR2轴活化PI3K/AKT信号通路并最终促进肝癌细胞上皮–间质转化。     

TGF-β1在乳腺癌中下调E-cadherin、上调N-cadherin和促进侵袭转移

目的探讨乳腺癌中转化生长因子-β1(transforming growth factor-β1,TGF-β1)与上皮性钙粘蛋白E-cadherin和神经性钙粘蛋白N-cadherin水平的关系及在肿瘤侵袭、转移中的临床意义。方法采用免疫组织化学染色检测230例乳腺癌组织芯片及相应癌旁组织中TGF-β1、E-cadherin和N-cadherin的免疫组织化学表达,与乳腺癌临床病理资料进行对照分析,并比较三者表达水平的相关性。将不同浓度的TGF-β1处理乳腺癌细胞检测E-cadherin和N-cadherin免疫反应性,并通过Transwell实验检测TGF-β1对乳腺癌细胞侵袭能力的影响。结果免疫组织化学染色显示,在乳腺癌组织中,TGF-β1和N-cadherin的阳性率明显高于癌旁组织,而E-cadherin的阳性率明显低于癌旁组织。TGF-β1的阳性率随着组织学分级的升高而升高,且在5年后复发的病人中的阳性率显著高于没有复发的病人;E-cadherin的表达与组织学分级呈负相关,且在有淋巴结转移和5年后复发的病人中的阳性率显著低于无淋巴结转移和未复发的病人;与E-cadherin相反,N-cadherin在有淋巴结转移和5年后复发的病人中的阳性率显著高于无淋巴结转移和5年未复发的病人。E-cadherin表达与N-cadherin和TGF-β1表达水平呈显著负相关,而N-cadherin表达与TGF-β1表达具有显著正相关性。TGF-β1处理可降低MCF-7乳腺癌细胞和MDA-MB-231乳腺癌细胞中E-cadherin水平及上调N-cadherin水平,并显著增加两种乳腺癌细胞的侵袭和迁移能力。结论乳腺癌组织中TGF-β1、E-cadherin、N-cadherin的表达与肿瘤上皮间质转化引起的侵袭转移和预后密切相关,检测其免疫组织化学表达对临床指导预后具有重要意义。     

沉默FOXQ1可逆转SW480细胞的上皮-间质转化

FOXQ1是FOX家族的的重要成员之一,其参与了多种人类肿瘤的上皮间质转化(epithelial- mesenchymal transition,EMT).本研究设计合成了FOXQ1基因的shRNA（short hairpin RNA）,用此转染SW480细胞,通过显微镜观察细胞形态,Transwell小室、细胞黏附试验检测转移能力及黏附能力,以探索FOXQ1与结直肠癌细胞EMT的关系.结果显示,沉默FOXQ1后,SW480细胞顶底极性及细胞间紧密连接增加,侵袭、迁移的细胞数目减少,同种黏附能力增加,异种黏附能力降低.进一步的机制研究表明,沉默FOXQ1基因可以导致SW480细胞的上皮标志因子E-cadherin表达显著增高,而间质细胞标志因子N-cadherin、Vimentin及MMP2表达均降低.以上结果表明,沉默FOXQ1基因可以逆转SW480细胞EMT,其机制可能与E-cadherin的上调和N cadherin、Vimentin、MMP2的下调有关,这为进一步研究FOXQ1在结直肠癌发生发展中的作用提供实验基础.     

地高辛通过下调AEG-1表达抑制人胃癌MKN45细胞迁移和侵袭

本研究旨在观察地高辛对人胃癌MKN45细胞迁移和侵袭能力的影响,并探讨其分子机制。取人胃癌MKN45细胞作为研究对象,采用Transwell法检测细胞迁移和侵袭能力,通过脂质体转染法将星形细胞上调基因-1(astrocyte elevated gene-1,AEG-1)sh RNA干扰质粒转染MKN45细胞以构建低表达AEG-1的细胞株,利用Western blot法检测基质金属蛋白酶-9(matrix metalloproteinase-9,MMP-9)、E-钙粘蛋白(E-cadherin)和AEG-1等蛋白的表达变化。结果显示,地高辛可使MKN45细胞迁移率和侵袭率均显著下降(P0.05),下调MMP-9和AEG-1蛋白表达水平(P0.05)以及上调E-cadherin蛋白表达水平(P0.05),上述作用均具有剂量依赖性。经sh RNA干扰AEG-1基因表达后,MKN45细胞中AEG-1蛋白表达水平显著下降(P0.05);同时AEG-1干扰组MKN45细胞中E-cadherin蛋白表达水平显著升高(P0.05),细胞迁移率、侵袭率和MMP-9蛋白表达水平均显著下降(P0.05)。上述结果提示,地高辛可在体外剂量依赖性地抑制人胃癌MKN45细胞迁移和侵袭,这可能与地高辛抑制AEG-1蛋白表达,继而下调MMP-9蛋白表达和上调E-cadherin蛋白表达有关。     

RBP2 Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

RBP2 has been found to actively participate in cancer progression. It inhibits the senescence of cancer cells, mediates cancer cell proliferation and promotes cancer metastasis. It is also essential to drug tolerance. However, the effects of RBP2 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition are still unknown. In this study, we analyzed the effects of RBP2 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer. The results showed that RBP2 down-regulated the expression of E-cadherin by inhibiting the promoter activity of E-cadherin and up-regulated the expression of N-cadherin and snail via the activation of Akt signaling, and the overexpression of RBP2 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer cells. Our study further indicated thatRBP2 may be a potential target for anti-lung cancer therapy.     

Neuropilin-2 expression promotes TGF-β1-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer cells

Neuropilins, initially characterized as neuronal receptors, act as co-receptors for cancer related growth factors and were recently involved in several signaling pathways leading to cytoskeletal organization, angiogenesis and cancer progression. Then, we sought to investigate the ability of neuropilin-2 to orchestrate epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer cells. Using specific siRNA to target neuropilin-2 expression, or gene transfer, we first observed that neuropilin-2 expression endows HT29 and Colo320 for xenograft formation. Moreover, neuropilin-2 conferred a fibroblastic-like shape to cancer cells, suggesting an involvement of neuropilin-2 in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Indeed, the presence of neuropilin-2 in colorectal carcinoma cell lines was correlated with loss of epithelial markers such as cytokeratin-20 and E-cadherin and with acquisition of mesenchymal molecules such as vimentin. Furthermore, we showed by surface plasmon resonance experiments that neuropilin-2 is a receptor for transforming-growth factor-β1. The expression of neuropilin-2 on colon cancer cell lines was indeed shown to promote transforming-growth factor-β1 signaling, leading to a constitutive phosphorylation of the Smad2/3 complex. Treatment with specific TGFβ-type1 receptor kinase inhibitors restored E-cadherin levels and inhibited in part neuropilin-2-induced vimentin expression, suggesting that neuropilin-2 cooperates with TGFβ-type1 receptor to promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer cells. Our results suggest a direct role of NRP2 in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and highlight a cross-talk between neuropilin-2 and TGF-β1 signaling to promote cancer progression. These results suggest that neuropilin-2 fulfills all the criteria of a therapeutic target to disrupt multiple oncogenic functions in solid tumors.     

N-cadherin expression is involved in malignant behavior of head and neck cancer in relation to epithelial-mesenchymal transition

The loss of E-cadherin and the gain of N-cadherin expression are known as "cadherin switching". Cadherin switching is a major hallmark of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is a crucial process in cancer progression, providing cancer cells with the ability to escape from the primary focus, to invade stromal tissues and to migrate to distant regions. Although down-regulation of E-cadherin is well known in various cancers, there are a few studies on N-cadherin expression in cancer. Here, therefore, we investigated whether N-cadherin expression was associated with the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). First, we examined the expression of N-cadherin by immunohistochemistry and its correlation with clinico-pathological findings. High expression of N-cadherin was observed in 52 of 80 HNSCC cases and was significantly correlated with malignant behaviors. Next, we examined the correlation between N-cadherin and E-cadherin. Cadherin switching (high expression of N-cadherin and low expression of E-cadherin) was found in 30 of 80 HNSCC cases and was well correlated with histological differentiation, pattern of invasion and lymph node metastasis in HNSCC cases. Moreover, we examined the expression of N-cadherin and E-cadherin by RT-PCR in 16 HNSCC cell lines to confirm the immunohistochemical findings. N-cadherin expression was observed in 7 of 16 HNSCC cells, and cadherin switching was observed in 2 HNSCC cells. Interestingly, HNSCC cells with cadherin switching have EMT features. In conclusion, we suggest that i) N-cadherin may play an important role in malignant behaviors of HNSCC, and ii) cadherin switching might be considered as a discrete critical event in EMT and metastatic potential of HNSCC.     

GJA1在结直肠癌组织中表达及促进侵袭转移的研究

摘要 目的：间隙连接Alpha-1蛋白（Gap Junction Alpha-1,GJA1）是间隙连接中分布最广泛的蛋白,并在多种肿瘤中起促癌作用,但其在结直肠癌发生、发展的作用研究甚少。本实验旨在探究GJA1在结直肠癌组织中的表达情况及其对结直肠癌细胞系侵袭、转移能力的影响,以期为结直肠癌的诊断和预后寻找新的生物标志物。方法：收集92对结直肠癌及其癌旁组织样本,提取组织RNA,利用qRT-PCR检测GJA1相对表达量,并分析GJA1表达与临床病理特征及预后的相关性。在HCT116和HCT8两种结直肠癌细胞系中分别构建GJA1过表达载体和敲减载体,利用qRT-PCR和、Western Blot检测上皮间充质转化（epithelial-mesenchymal transition, EMT）相关蛋白E-Cadherin、N-Cadherin、Vimentin和Snail的表达变化,利用Wound healing和Transwell实验观察其迁移、侵袭能力的变化。结果：相对于癌旁组织,GJA1在结直肠癌组织中显著低表达。并且结直肠癌中低表达的GJA1与肿瘤分化程度、浸润深度、淋巴血管转移相关,低表达GJA1结直肠癌患者显示更差的总体生存率和更低的无病生存率。此外,过表达GJA1后,结直肠癌细胞E-cadherin的表达升高,N-cadherin、Vimentin和Snail的表达降低,划痕愈合减慢,Transwell转移细胞减少;而敲减GJA1后,结直肠癌细胞E-Cadherin的表达降低,N-Cadherin、Vimentin和Snail的表达升高,划痕愈合加快,Transwell转移细胞增多。结论：GJA1在结直肠癌中低表达,其表达降低可通过EMT促进结直肠癌的侵袭、转移并影响病人预后。     

TGF-β1对AGS细胞上皮-间充质转化及体外侵袭的影响

目的观察转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)对人胃癌细胞株AGS发生上皮-间充质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)及体外侵袭的影响。方法将体外培养的AGS用TGF-β1干预后,倒置显微镜下观察细胞形态学的变化,MTT比色法检测TGF-β1对AGS增殖的影响,细胞划痕试验和Transwell侵袭试验检测细胞运动和侵袭力的改变;免疫荧光和Western blot检测snail、E-cadherin(上皮钙粘蛋白)、和N-cadherin(神经钙粘蛋白)表达的变化。结果TGF-β1诱导AGS向间充质细胞形态转化,低浓度促进细胞增殖,而高浓度时细胞增殖率逐步降低,且snail和间充质细胞表型N-cadherin表达上调,而上皮细胞表型E-cadherin表达下调,同时细胞运动和侵袭能力大大增强。结论TGF-β1可诱导AGS发生EMT,从而增加其侵袭、转移的能力。     

SALL4 as an Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Drug Resistance Inducer through the Regulation of c-Myc in Endometrial Cancer

SALL4 plays important roles in the development and progression of many cancers. However, the role and molecular mechanism of SALL4 in endometrial cancer remain elusive. In the present research, we have demonstrated that the expression of SALL4 was upregulated in endometrial cancer and correlated positively with tumor stage, metastases and poor survival of patients. The overexpression of SALL4 promoted the invasiveness in endometrial cancer cells, as indicated by the upregulation of mesenchymal cell marker N-cadherin and downregulation of the epithelial marker E-cadherin, and invasion assays in vitro. Additionally, there was also an increase in drug resistance in these cell models due to the upregulation of ATP-binding cassette multidrug transporter ABCB1 expression. Moreover, we also found that ABCB1 was critical for SALL4-induced drug resistance. In contrast, SALL4 knockdown restored drug sensitivity, reversed EMT, diminished cell metastasis and suppressed the downregulation of E-cadherin and the upregulation of N-cadherin and ABCB1. Furthermore, we showed that SALL4 upregulated c-Myc expression and c-Myc was a direct target for SALL4 by ChIP assay, depletion of c-Myc with siRNA abolished the SALL4-induced downregulation of E-cadherin, upregulation of N-cadherin and ABCB1, suggesting that c-Myc was a downstream target for SALL4 and required for SALL4-induced EMT, invasion and drugs resistance in endometrial cancer cells. These results indicated that SALL4 could induce EMT and resistance to antineoplastic drugs through the regulation of c-Myc. SALL4 and c-Myc may be novel therapeutic targets for endometrial cancer.