TRPV2 Promotes Cell Migration and Invasion in Gastric Cancer via the Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling Pathway

Background Transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2) is a highly Ca 2+ -permeable ion channel that is involved in a number of cellular processes. It is expressed in various human cancers; however, the role of TRPV2 in gastric cancer (GC) remains poorly understood. Methods TRPV2 gene expression was knocked down in GC cell lines by small-interfering RNA (siRNA), and the biological roles of TRPV2 in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells were then investigated. The gene expression profile of GC was elucidated using a microarray analysis. TRPV2 expression in tumor tissue sections was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results The migration and invasion abilities of GC cells were inhibited by the knockdown of TRPV2. Moreover, the microarray assay revealed that TRPV2 was associated with the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathway. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the strong expression of TRPV2 correlated with lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, pathological T (pT), pathological N (pN), and a poor prognosis in GC patients. Conclusions TRPV2 appeared to promote tumor migration and invasion via the TGF-β signaling pathway, and the strong expression of TRPV2 was associated with a worse prognosis in GC patients.