Serpin peptidase inhibitor clade A member 1-overexpression in gastric cancer promotes tumor progression and is associated with poor prognosis.

Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-associated death in Asia. The incidence and mortality rates of gastric cancer have markedly increased in the past few decades. Therefore, the identification of novel gastric cancer biomarkers are needed to determine prognosis. The role of serpin peptidase inhibitor clade A member 1 (SERPINA1) has been studied in several types of cancer; however, little is known about its mechanism in gastric cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate as a potential prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer and to identify the possible mechanisms underlying its action. The expression levels of in several gastric cancer datasets were assessed, and it was identified that high expression of was associated to poor clinical outcomes. Furthermore, using histochemical analysis, western blotting, apoptotic analysis, gap closure and invasion assays in cell lines, it was reported that silencing of inhibited the formation of cellular pseudopodia and did not affect apoptosis, but promoted cell cycle S-phase entry. In addition, overexpression of increased the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells, whereas knockdown of decreased these functions. Moreover, SERPINA1 overexpression increased the protein levels of SMAD4, which is a key regulator of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathway. Taken together, the present data demonstrated that SERPINA1 promotes gastric cancer progression through TGF-β signaling, and suggested that may be a novel prognostic biomarker from tumor tissue biopsy in gastric cancer.