Objective:
To study the role of MEK2/ERK signal transduction pathway in the development of colorectal cancer. Methods: (1)Western blot analysis was performed on cancerous tissues and adjacent colonic tissues in 45 patients with colorectal cancers.(2)Human colorectal cancer cell line SW480 was treated with MEK inhibitor,and then MTT assay was used to measure the SW480 cells proliferation;and the expression of MEK2, p-ERK and C-myc in SW480 cells were measured by western blot. Results:MEK2 protein level was increased in colorectal cancer compared with adjacent mucosa (P<0.05). The overexpression of MEK2 in cancerous tissue was related to the Dukes stage, differentiation and lymph nodes metastasis (P<0.05). There were significant correlation between MEK2 expression and clinicopalhological parameters such as tumor size, serosa invasion and distant metastasis. SW480 treated with MEK inhibitor PD98059 resulted in significant growth inhibition and downregulation of MEK2, p-ERK and C-myc.Conclusions:The increase of MEK2 may correlate with the invisive potention of colorectal cancer. Blocking MEK2/ERK signal transduction pathway could inhibit the growth of SW480 cells.