Polo-like Kinase 1 Is Involved In The Apoptosis, Invasion And Metastasis Of Pancreatic Cancer

Objectives: Polo-like kinase 1(Plk1)is over-expressed in many cancers and is widely pursued as a novel target for neoplasms.To investigate the role of polo-like kinase 1 as a therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer,we explore and discuss the relationship between the inhibition of Plk1 by RNA interference(RNAi)and the invasive and metastasizing ability of pancreatic cancer cells.Methods: Three pancreatic cancer cell lines(AsPC-1,BxPC-3,PANC-1)were studied.Plk1-shRNA were transferred to these three kinds of cells by using virus infection.Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression level of Plk1 protein and Plk1 mRNA.Moreover,flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell apoptosis and transwell assay were used to examine the migration and invasion ability of pancreatic cancer cells.Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the shPlk1 group and other groups about the expression level of Plk1 mRNA and Plk1 protein(P <0.01)and this level in the shPlk1 group was lower than it in other groups.At the meantime,when the expression of Plk1 was inhibited by Plk1-specific shRNA(shPlk1),cell apoptosis was promoted(P<0.01)and the ability of cell invasion and metastasis was significantly inhibited(P <0.01).Conclusions: Plk1 expression status was closely correlated with the proliferation,invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer,and inhibition of Plk1 expression by RNAi can promote cell apoptosis and suppress metastasis and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro.Furthermore,Plk1 could be a potential target for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and inhibition of Plk1 may provide a new strategy for the prevention of pancreatic cancer invasion and metastasis.