Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation and Invasion

Background and AimsCatechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) has been reported as an important molecule in various types of cancers. The biological function of COMT in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not yet been fully investigated.MethodsWe constructed a transient transfection of a CRC cell lines to up- and downregulate COMT expression level and tested the proliferative, invasion ability in vitro. We also constructed a stable transduced CRC cell line and conducted tumor-forming capacity experiment in mouse xenograft model in vivo.ResultsIn vitro experiment showed that COMT inhibited the cell proliferation by regulating p-Akt, PTEN and inhibited G1 to S phase transition by regulating p53, p27, and cyclinD1. COMT inhibited invasion by regulating E-cadherin. In vivo experiment showed decreased tumor growth in COMT overexpressing cell line.ConclusionsCOMT has tumor-suppressive functions for CRC cell lines in vitro and in vivo experiments.