OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP-1) expression on the proliferative ability of human colorectal cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSRT-PCR and Western blot were used to screen cells of the colorectal cancer cell line with no or with minimal endogenous LASP-1 expression. LASP-1 cDNA with or without GFP was transfected into SW480 colorectal cancer cells with minimal LASP-1 expression. Stable transfectants were established after G418 selection. Cell proliferative capacity was assessed by MTT assay. Tumor growth was visualized by whole-body imaging system.

RESULTSpcDNA3-LASP-1 and pEGFP-LASP-1 vectors were successfully constructed and transfected into the SW480 cells. After comparative study for 7 days, LASP-1 over-expression was found capable of enhancing significantly the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells in vitro. Stable transfectants with GFP expression were inoculated subcutaneously into the nude mice. Tumorigenesis and proliferation ability of LASP-1-overexpressed transfectants were higher than those of the control cells.

CONCLUSIONLASP-1 gene expression enhances proliferation of colorectal cancer cells and may serve as a useful marker for colorectal cancer progression.