ASAP1 protein macromolecule promotes the growth and development of gastric cancer cells and the remodeling of F-actin cytoskeleton: Expression of VEGF and HIF-1 α proteins

ASAP1 (Ankyrin Repeat and PH Domain 1) is a macromolecular regulatory protein, which has been shown to play an important role in a variety of tumors in recent years. Gastric cancer (GC), as a highly lethal malignancy worldwide, is in urgent need of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Tissue samples from multiple gastric cancer patients were collected and analyzed through TCGA and GEO databases. The expression of ASAP1 and its correlation with clinicopathological features were evaluated by tissue microarray and immunohistochemical staining. The biological function of ASAP1 was analyzed by cell line culture, Westernblot and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Cell migration, invasion, in vitro tube formation and xenotransplantation models were performed to detect the effects of ASAP1 on tumor growth and angiogenesis. The cytoskeletal remodeling process was evaluated by luciferase reporting assay and Phalloidin staining assay. It has been found that the expression of ASAP1 in gastric cancer tissues is significantly increased, and it is closely related to the prognosis of patients. The expression of ASAP1 was positively correlated with the levels of VEGF and HIF-1 alpha. The elimination of ASAP1 significantly inhibited the migration, invasion and angiogenesis of gastric cancer cells. In xenograft experiments, ASAP1 promoted tumor growth and angiogenesis. miR-let-7a-5p can affect the migration, invasion and F-actin bundle formation of gastric cancer cells by targeting ASAP1.