Knockdown of ANXA1 suppresses the biological behavior of human NSCLC cells in vitro

Annexin A1 (ANXA1) is a member of the annexin superfamily. Previous studies have reported that ANXA1 is highly expressed in various types of malignant tumor; however, its role in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains to be fully clarified. The present study aimed to investigate the oncogenic role of ANXA1 in NSCLC cells in vitro. RNA interference was used to down-regulate ANXA1 expression in A549 and H1299 cells using a small interfering RNA lentiviral vector. Subsequently, cell proliferation and migration were detected using Cell Counting kit-8, clone formation, wound healing and Transwell chamber assays. Successful transfection was confirmed using fluorescence microscopy, which demonstrated that ANXA1 had been efficiently inhibited. ANXA1 knockdown suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. In conclusion, the present study provided evidence suggesting that ANXA1 may contribute to the growth and invasion of NSCLC cell lines, and ANXA1 may be exploited as an in vitro therapeutic target for the treatment of NSCLC.