Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 promotes tumor growth and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most aggressive malignancies worldwide. Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 is a nuclear matrix attachment region binding protein which participates in higher order chromatin organization and tissue-specific gene expression. However, the role of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma remains unknown. In this study, western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis were performed to identify differentially expressed special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 in a series of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue samples. The effects of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 silencing by two short-hairpin RNAs on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed by the CCK-8 assay and transwell assays in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in vitro. Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 was significantly upregulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue samples and cell lines. Silencing of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 inhibited the proliferation of KYSE450 and EC9706 cells which have a relatively high level of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1, and the ability of migration and invasion of KYSE450 and EC9706 cells was distinctly suppressed. Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 could be a potential target for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and inhibition of special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 may provide a new strategy for the prevention of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma invasion and metastasis.