S100A4 promotes invasion and angiogenesis in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells by upregulating matrix metalloproteinase-13

S100A4 is a member of the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins that is directly involved in tumor metastasis. In the present study, we examined the potential role of S100A4 in metastasis in breast cancer and its relation with matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13). Analysis of 100 breast cancer specimens including 50 with and 50 without lymph node metastasis showed a significant upregulation of S100A4 and MMP-13 expression in metastatic breast cancer tissues. Positive immunoreactivity for S100A4 was associated with MMP-13 expression. Overexpression of S100A4 in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line upregulated MMP13 expression leading to increased cell migration and angiogenesis. SiRNA-mediated silencing of S100A4 downregulated MMP13 expression and suppressed cell migration and angiogenesis. Moreover, neutralization of MMP-13 activity with a specific antibody blocked cell migration and angiogenesis in MDA-MB-231/S100A4 cells. In vivo siRNA silencing of S100A4 significantly inhibited lung metastasis in transgenic mice. The present results suggest that the S100A4 gene may control the invasive potential of human breast cancer cells by modulating MMP-13 levels, thus regulating metastasis and angiogenesis in breast tumors. S100A4 could therefore be of value as a biomarker of breast cancer progression and a novel therapeutic target for human breast cancer treatment.