PARG Promotes Esophagus Cancer Cell Metastasis by Activation of the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway.

Esophagus cancer (EC) is a highly malignant and metastatic cancer. Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG), a DNA replication and repair regulator, inhibits cancer cell replication defects. This study aimed to explore the role of PARG in EC. The biological behaviors were analyzed using MTT assay, Transwell assay, scratch test, cell adhesion assay, and western blot. PARG expression was detected using quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical assay. The regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was assessed using western blot. The results showed that PARG was highly expressed in EC tissues and cells. Knockdown of PARG suppressed cell viability, invasion, migration, adhesion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Conversely, overexpression of PARG promoted the biological behaviors mentioned above. Moreover, overexpression of PARG promoted the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway rather than the STAT and Notch pathways. XAV939, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor, partly abolished the biological behaviors mediated by PARG overexpression. In conclusion, PARG promoted the malignant advancement of EC via activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These findings suggested that PARG might be a new therapeutic target for EC.