Objective: This study aims at investigating the functional role of CDCA2 (cell division cycle associated 2) in enhancing proliferative and migratory abilities in melanoma by upregulating CCAD1, thus aggravating the progression of melanoma.
Patients and methods: CDCA2 levels in melanoma tissues and cell lines were determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Regulatory effects of CDCA2 on proliferative and migratory abilities in melanoma cells were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and wound healing assay, respectively. At last, rescue experiments were conducted to explore the involvement of CCAD1 in CDCA2-regulated progression of melanoma.
Results: CDCA2 was upregulated in melanoma tissues, especially in those with metastasis. Identically, in vitro level of CDCA2 was upregulated in melanoma cell lines. The knockdown of CDCA2 in A375 and sk-mel-110 cells inhibited the proliferative and migratory abilities. The overexpression of CCAD1 could partially abolish the inhibitory effects of silenced CDCA2 on proliferative and migratory abilities in melanoma.
Conclusions: CDCA2 stimulates proliferative and migratory abilities in melanoma cells by upregulating CCAD1, thus aggravating the malignant progression of melanoma.