Mesenchymal stem cells induce tumor stroma formation and epithelial ‑mesenchymal transition through SPARC expression in colorectal cancer

Oncol Rep. 2021 Jun;45(6):104. doi: 10.3892/or.2021.8055. Epub 2021 Apr 28.ABSTRACTTumor‑stroma interactions serve a crucial role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), in which secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) has been implicated. Due to interactions between cancer and stromal cells [mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)], SPARC gene expression is markedly upregulated in CRC cells. The present study investigated the role of SPARC in CRC development and its potential as a biomarker. Specifically, the present study examined the association between SPARC expression and clinicopathological characteristics in 42 cases of CRC. SPARC expression in cancer cells was associated with T grade, N grade (TNM classification), stage and poor prognosis. Furthermore, the area of fibroblast‑activating protein‑positive staining around the cancer cells was increased in SPARC‑positive compared with SPARC‑negative cases. Proliferation and wound healing assays in SPARC‑silenced KM12SM cells [short hairpin RNA SPARC (shSPARC)], the reduced SPARC expression of which was demonstrated by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR, revealed that the proliferative and migratory capacity of shSPARC cells did not differ from that of wild‑type (WT) cells. However, it was markedly reduced when co‑cultured with MSCs. Furthermore, in vivo, immunohistological analysis and RNA sequencing were conducted in an orthotopic implanted mouse model. Tumor growth and lymph node metastasi...
Source: Oncology Reports - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research