CAV2 promotes the growth of renal cell carcinoma through the EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway

BACKGROUND: Caveolin-2 (CAV2) is reported to have an important role in cancer. The following study investigated the expression and function of CAV2 in kidney cancer in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis were used to determine CAV2, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt) in kidney cancer cell line OS-RC-2 and clinical specimens. The role of CAV2 in maintaining kidney cancer malignant phenotype was examined by wound healing assay, Matrigel invasion assays and mouse orthotopic xenograft model. RESULTS: Higher expression of CAV2 was found in renal cell carcinoma tissue compared to normal tissue. Furthermore, increased expression of CAV2 was associated with cancer progression. Also, silencing of CAV2 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as the expression of EGFR, PI3K and p-Akt in OS-RC-2 cells in vitro, and OS-RC-2 xenograft growth in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that CAV2 promotes the growth of renal cell carcinoma through EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway.