Tiam1 gene expression and its significance in colorectal carcinoma

AIM: To explore the expression of Tiam1 gene in colorectal carcinoma and its correlation with tumor metastasis.METHODS: Expressions of Tiam1 gene in 8 colorectal carcinoma cell lines were detected by reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction. In vitro invasiveness was determined by means of Matrigel invasion assay. The correlation of Tiam1 expression with the invasive ability was also analyzed.RESULTS: Tiam1 gene was highly expressed in LoVo and SW620, which were established from metastatic colorectal carcinomas in comparison with LS174T, SW480, HCT116,LST, HRT-18 and Hee8693, which were established from primary colorectal carcinomas. In vitro cell invasivion demonstrated that LoVo and SW620 had a higher invasive ability than LS174T, SW480, HCT116, LST, HRT-18 and Hee8693. The expression of Tiam1 gene was highly related to the metastatic potential of colorectal carcinoma cells.CONCLUSION: Tiam1 gene may play an important role in invasion and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma and is a metastasis-related gene.