Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation and invasion.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) has been reported as an important molecule in various types of cancers. The biological function of COMT in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not yet been fully investigated. We constructed a transient transfection of a CRC cell lines to up- and downregulate COMT expression level and tested the proliferative, invasion ability in vitro. We also constructed a stable transduced CRC cell line and conducted tumor-forming capacity experiment in mouse xenograft model in vivo. In vitro experiment showed that COMT inhibited the cell proliferation by regulating p-Akt, PTEN and inhibited G1 to S phase transition by regulating p53, p27, and cyclinD1. COMT inhibited invasion by regulating E-cadherin. In vivo experiment showed decreased tumor growth in COMT overexpressing cell line. COMT has tumor-suppressive functions for CRC cell lines in vitro and in vivo experiments.