Abstract
von Willebrand factor C and EGF domain‑containing protein (URG11), a cell growth regulator, is involved in the progression of a variety of types of cancer, including prostate cancer (Pca). However, the functions of the URG11 gene in Pca cells require in‑depth investigation. The mRNA and protein levels of URG11 were measured by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) and western blot analysis. Cell Counting kit‑8 (CCK‑8), wound‑healing and Transwell assays were used to detect cell viability, migration and invasion, respectively. Apoptosis and cell cycle analyses were performed using flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of epithelial (E)‑cadherin, vimentin, α‑smooth muscle actin (α‑SMA), cyclin D1 and MYC proto‑oncogene protein (c‑Myc) were analyzed by RT‑qPCR and western blot analysis. In the present study, the mRNA and protein levels of URG11 were markedly upregulated in Pca cell lines compared with those in the normal prostate epithelial cell line. With functional experiments, the cell viability, migration and invasion of Pca cells were markedly promoted by URG11 overexpression. The cell cycle was effectively induced by URG11 and apoptosis was inhibited by the overexpression of URG11. Concomitantly, the epithelial marker E‑cadherin was downregulated, and the mesenchymal markers vimentin and α‑SMA were upregulated following URG11 overexpression. By contrast, genetic knockout of URG11 elicited the opposite effects. The present study also identified that the downstream effector genes of the Wnt/β‑catenin signal pathway, cyclin D1 and c‑Myc, were increased following the overexpression of endogenous URG11, which are known to regulate cell proliferation. In addition, the Wnt/β‑catenin inhibitor FH535 ameliorated the promotive effects of URG11 on LNCaP cells viability, migration and invasion, and the Wnt/β‑catenin agonist LiCl reversed the inhibitory effects of siURG11 in LNCaP cells on cell viability, migration and invasion. The present study demonstrated that URG11 served an oncogenic role in the development of Pca cells and provided evidence that URG11 has potential as a novel therapeutic target in Pca.