CIIA Is a Novel Regulator of Detachment-Induced Cell Death

Detachment-induced cell death, or anoikis, is a type of apoptosis that occurs when epithelial cells lose their attachment to the extracellular matrix. Anoikis serves as a physiologic barrier to metastasis. Deviation from the tightly regulated mechanism of detachment-induced cell death might result in progression to metastatic cancer. Here, we investigated the function of CIIA in the regulation of anoikis. CIIA protein was upregulated in colon cancer tissue samples. Knockdown of CIIA in metastatic colorectal carcinoma SW620 and KM12SM cells promoted detachment-induced cell death through the regulation of caspase activation. Knockdown of CIIA also inhibited anchorage-independent growth in soft agar and colony formation after suspension stress. These observations suggest that CIIA is a novel negative regulator of anoikis. Cancer Res; 70(15); 6352–8. ©2010 AACR.