Serum and glucocorticoid kinase 1 promoted the growth and migration of non-small cell lung cancer cells

• SGK1 is overexpressed in NSCLC samples.
• SGK1 positively regulates the growth, migration and metastasis of NSCLC cells.
• SGK1 activates beta-catenin/TCF signaling in NSCLC cells.

Serum and glucocorticoid kinase 1 (SGK1) has been reported to be up-regulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its functions in NSCLC remained unclear. Here, SGK1 was found to be up-regulated in NSCLC samples. Over-expression of SGK1 promoted the growth and migration of NSCLC cells, while down-regulation of SGK1 inhibited the growth, migration and metastasis of NSCLC cells. SGK1 promoted the phosphorylation of GSK3 beta and the accumulation of beta-catenin, up-regulation of the target genes downstream of beta-catenin/TCF signaling, and activating the transcriptional activity of beta-catenin/TCF complex. Collectively, SGK1 might promote the progression of NSCLC through activating beta-catenin/TCF signaling.