Background Accumulated evidences demonstrate that phosphatase of regeneration liver-3 （PRL-3） is associated with metastasis of multiple tumor types, and has been validated as a potential therapeutic target for metastasis. High expression of PRL-3 was implicated in lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer. In the present study, we investigated the role of silencing PRL-3 expression by microRNA （miRNA） interference in gastric cancer growth. Methods RNA interference, mediated by recombinant lentivirus expressing artificial PRL-3 miRNA, was employed to knockdown PRL-3 expression in human SGC7901 gastric cancer cells. MTT assay and tumor implantation experiment were conducted to determine the role of PRL-3 in the proliferation of SGC7901 cells and tumor growth. Results Transfection of recombinant lentivirus expressing artificial PRL-3 miRNA significantly suppressed the proliferation of SGC7901 cells in vitro. The implanted tumor size of the PRL-3 transfection group was （1.92±0.18） cm^3, significantly smaller compared with controls （P 〈0.001）. Conclusions Knockdown of PRL-3 significantly suppressed the proliferation of SGC7901 cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. PRL-3 plays a key role in the growth of gastric cancer. PRL-3 should be considered as a potential therapeutic target.
CAI Shi-rong WANG Zhao CHEN Chuang-qi WU Wen-hui HE Yu-long ZHAN Wen-hua ZHANG Chang-hua CUI Ji WU Hui
