RASSF4 is downregulated in nonsmall cell lung cancer and inhibits cancer cell proliferation and invasion

RASSF4 has been implicated as a tumor suppressor in several human cancers. Its clinical significance and biological characteristics in human nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been explored yet. In this study, we explored expression pattern of RASSF4 in 89 NSCLC specimens. The results showed that RASSF4 was downregulated in 36/89 NSCLC tissues compared with normal tissue. RASSF4 downregulation significantly associated with advanced TNM stage, positive nodal status, and poor prognosis. We examined RASSF4 protein expression in normal lung epithelial cell line and lung cancer lines. We found that RASSF4 expression was downregulated in four of seven lung cancer cell lines compared with normal bronchial epithelial cells. RASSF4 plasmid transfection was performed in H460 and A549 cell lines. RASSF4 overexpression inhibited proliferation, colony formation, and invading ability. In addition, we identified that RASSF4 could inhibit cell cycle progression with downregulation of cyclin D1. Expression of invasion-related protein MMP2, MMP9 was also decreased. In conclusion, the present study suggested that RASSF4 serves as an important tumor suppressor in NSCLC.