Overexpression of RhoGDI2 Correlates with Tumor Progression and Poor Prognosis in Colorectal Carcinoma

Background RhoGDI2 has been identified as a regulator of tumor metastasis but its role in cancer remains controversial. The aims of this study were to analyze the function of RhoGDI2 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC), and to determine its possible signaling pathway in CRC. Methods The expression of RhoGDI2 was detected in CRC cell lines, and 20 matched pairs of fresh CRC tissues, and 120 cases of clinical paraffin-embedded CRC tissues by real-time RT-PCR, Western blot, RT-PCR, or immunohistochemistry. The levels of activations of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-MAPK, and p-MEK were then examined in RhoGDI2-overexpressing cells by Western blot. A series of assays were finally performed to evaluate the effect of RhoGDI2 on CRC cell behaviors in vitro. Results RhoGDI2 expression was higher in highly metastatic CRC cell lines than in lowly metastatic ones. RhoGDI2 expression was up-regulated in CRC or lymphatic metastatic tissues relative to normal mucosa ( P