Overexpression of the thymosin beta-4 gene is associated with increased invasion of SW480 colon carcinoma cells and the distant metastasis of human colorectal carcinoma

Wang WS, Chen PM, Hsiao HL, Wang HS, Liang WY, Su Y · Oncogene

Forced Tβ4 expression increased invasiveness with higher MMP-7 activity and lower Fas, reducing susceptibility to Fas-ligand-mediated apoptosis. In patient tissue, Tβ4 message was higher in liver metastases than in the matched primary tumours, alongside higher β-catenin, c-Myc and MMP-7 and lower E-cadherin.

Population

SW480 colon carcinoma cells; matched primary tumours and liver metastases from colorectal cancer patients

Intervention

Enforced Tβ4 expression

Comparator

Parental cells; matched primary tumour tissue

Limitations

Cell line plus a small matched-tissue series; the human component is correlational.