Background and aims: The CT120 gene had been proven to be a novel gene closely related to pulmonary carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Our aim was to explore the mechanism of growth suppression caused by silencing CT120.
Methods: CT120 was detected in lung cancer tissues and the cell line A549, and the cell clones for silencing CT120 were obtained. Then the target genes were detected and the downstream proteins from the silencing of CT120 were separated and identified.
Results: The expression of CT120 was higher in lung cancer tissues and A549 cells. Silencing of CT120 was shown to inhibit cell growth, reduce the expression of cyclin D1 and Cdk4, and increase the expression of p53 and caspase-3. The differential proteins were related to carcinogenesis, invasiveness, and metastasis.
Conclusion: CT120 may play an important role in tumor progression, and the down-regulation of CT120 expression could be a new drug target candidate in the treatment of lung cancer.