Human runt-related transcription factor 3 suppresses the proliferation and migration of salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma cells through transcriptional inhibition of protein kinase B/beta-catenin

Objective To explore the expression of human Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) in human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma and effct of RUNX3 on protein kinase B (Akt)/β-catenin. Methods The expression level of RUNX3 in 55 pairs of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) tissues and corresponding normal tissue samples was detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and its clinical significance was analyzed. After the wild-type RUNX3 was overexpressed in SACC-83 and SACC-LM cells, the effect of RUNX3 on Akt/beta-catenin at mRNA and protein levels was investigated using Western blotting and RT-qPCR analysis. The effect of RUNX3 on the proliferation and migration of SACC cells was measured using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) kit and cell scratch assay. Results The expression of RUNX3 mRNA was down-regulated in 70.9% (39/55) salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma tissues. The down-regulation of RUNX3 was significantly correlated with nerve metastasis (P=0.003), recurrence (P=0.043) and clinical stage (P=0.003), and almost related with with T grading (P=0.072). The down-regulation of RUNX3 was significantly related with the shorter overall survival (OS) of SACC patients (P=0.031). The Akt and β-catenin protein and mRNA were down-regulated by RUNX3 overexpression. The proliferation and migration of SACC-83 and SACC-LM cells were significantly inhibited by RUNX3 overexpression. Conclusion RUNX3 acts as a tumor suppressor gene in huamn SACC, which suppresses the proliferation and migration of SACC cells through transcriptional inhibition of Akt/beta-catenin. Key words: Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma; Runt related transcription factor 3; Protein kinase B/β-catenin signaling pathway; Prognosis