Impact of protamine I on colon cancer proliferation, invasion, migration, diagnosis and prognosis.

This paper investigates protamine I (PRM1) expression and its effects on proliferation, invasion and migration of colon cancer cells as well as its function in clinical diagnosis and prognosis. Gene chips were used to screen differentially expressed genes. PRM1 expression was detected by Western blotting and quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry were utilized to compare the expression of PRM1 from multiple differentiation levels of colon cancer tissues. Cell viability, cell apoptosis and cell cycle were tested using the MTT assay and flow cytometry. Cell invasion and migration capability were tested using the Transwell assay and wound healing. In vivo effects of PRM1 on colon cancer were explored using a xenograft model. PRM1 expression in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression level of PRM1 was significantly higher in colon cancer tissues and the staining degree of PRM1 in poorly-differentiated was stronger. pcDNA3.1-PRM1 decreased cell apoptosis while it increased the proliferation, cell invasion and migration. The si-PRM1 group displayed an opposite tendency. The serum PRM1 level was significantly higher and could serve as a diagnostic biomarker for colon cancer.