Abstract: Objective To investigate the role and regulatory mechanismof kinesin family member 18B (KIF18B) in proliferation and migration of gastric cancer (GC) cells. Methods The expression of KIF18B in GC tissues and cells (MKN-28, AGS and HGC-27) was detected by using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Wound healing method was used to detect cell migration. The expression levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and MMP-3 were determined by Western blotting. Results The KIF18B expression was up-regulated in GC tissues and cells. Silencing KIF18B dramatically reduced the proliferation, colony formation capability and migration rate of AGS cells. The expression level of E-cadherin was increased, and the N-cadherin and MMP-3 expression levels were decreased. Moreover, the KIF18B knockdown significantly inhibited the CDCA8 expression but promoted the expression of p53 protein. Overexpression of CDCA8 could reverse the effects of KIF18B silencing on cell proliferation and migration. Conclusion KIF18B regulated the proliferation and migration of GC cells via the CDCA8 / p53 pathway.

Key words: KIF18B, gastric cance, CDCA8 / p53, proliferation, migration