Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) promoted by transcription factor SPI1 acts as an oncogene to modulate the malignant phenotype of endometrial cancer

We aimed to study the function and mechanism of endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) in endometrial cancer (EC). The binding relationship between SPI1 and ESM1 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The expressions and effects of SPI1 and ESM1 were determined using quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and functional experiments. ESM1 was highly expressed in EC and was associated with the poor prognosis of patients. ESM1 silencing suppressed the viability, proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis of EC cells, down-regulated expressions of PCNA, N-cadherin, Vimentin, VEGFR-1, VEGFR2, and EGFR, but upregulated E-cadherin level, while ESM1 overexpression did oppositely. Moreover, SPI1 bound to ESM1. Overexpressed SPI1 promoted the expression of ESM1 and induced malignant phenotype (viability, proliferation, and invasion), which were countervailed by ESM1 silencing. Collectively, ESM1 induced by SPI1 promotes the malignant phenotype of EC.