Low expression of DAL-1 in cancer tissue was significantly associated with tumor site (p < 0.05), histological grade (p < 0.01), depth of invasion (p < 0.05), lymph node metastasis status (p < 0.05), Lauren classification (p < 0.001), and clinical stage (p < 0.01).
Exogenous DAL-1 effectively inhibited cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT); exogenous DAL-1 also promoted apoptosis in GC AGS cells.
DAL-1 directly combined with E-cadherin promoter and regulated its expression that could be the reason for impairing EMT and decreasing cell migration and invasion.
The role of EPB41L3 in inhibiting A549 cell invasion was further validated by directly downregulating EPB41L3 via transfecting cells with EPB41L3 siRNA or miR-223 mimic.
Overexpression of DAL-1 in A549 cells, a cell line lacking endogenous DAL-1, inhibited cell migration and invasion by approximately 38 and 48 %, respectively.