TRPM7 mediates breast cancer cell migration and invasion through the MAPK pathway

Metastasis is an inherent feature of breast cancer and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels were found to be potentially implicated in this process. Particularly, TRPM7 may regulate cell motility. We therefore examined the expression of TRPM7 mRNA in the Oncomine database and found that TRPM7 is correlated to metastasis and invasive breast cancer. Silencing TRPM7 with RNA interference resulted in a significant decrease in migration and invasion capability of MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells, and phosphorylation levels of Src and MAPK but not AKT. Our results suggest that TRPM7 regulates migration and invasion of metastatic breast cancer cells via MAPK pathway.

► TRPM7 overexpression is correlated to cancer metastasis and invasive breast cancers.
► Knockdown of TRPM7 suppresses MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cell migration and invasion.
► TRPM7 mediates migration and invasion of MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cell through the MAPK pathway.