Autocrine motility factor receptor signaling pathway promotes cell invasion via activation of ROCK-2 in esophageal squamous cell cancer cells.

Aberrant overexpression of autocrine motility factor and its receptor (AMFR) is observed in many cancers but not in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). In this study, upregulated rho-associated protein kinase 2, p-cofilin and intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and downregulated E-cadherin were found in ESCC cells transfected with the plasmid pcDNA 3.1-AMFR-C, while opposite results were observed in ESCC cells transfected with siRNA against AMFR. Additionally, an elevated invasion of ESCC cells by AMFR was reversed by rho-associated protein kinase 2 inhibitor Y-27632, suggesting that AMFR pathway promotes invasion of ESCC cells and may be a potential target for ESCC therapy.