INHBA gene silencing inhibits gastric cancer cell migration and invasion by impeding activation of the TGF‐β signaling pathway

Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth largest cancer in the world, with a 5‐year survival rate of <30%. Thus, this study intends to investigate the effects of inhibin βA (INHBA) gene silencing on the migration and invasion of GC cells via the transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) signaling pathway. Initially, this study determined the expression of INHBA and the TGF‐β signaling pathway‐related genes in GC tissues. After that, to assess the effect of INHBA silencing on GC progression, GC cells were transfected with short hairpin RNAs that targeted INHBA in order to detect the expression of INHBA and the TGF‐β signaling pathway‐related genes, as well as cell migration, invasion, and proliferation abilities. Finally, a tumor xenograft model in nude mice was constructed to verify the effect that the silencing of INHBA had on tumor growth. Highly expressed INHBA and activated TGF‐β signaling pathways were observed in GC tissues. In response to shINHBA‐1 and shINHBA‐2, the TGF‐β signaling pathway was inhibited in GC cells, whereas the GC cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and tumor growth were significantly dampened. On the basis of the observations and findings of this study, INHBA gene silencing inhibited the progression of GC by inactivating the TGF‐β signaling pathway, which provides a potential target in the treatment of GC.