Knockdown of COL6A1 significantly decreases the migration and invasion of BxPC-M8 cells. (A) Significantly decreased COL6A1 expression was observed following COL6A1 knockdown between the NC and the Si3 knockdown group, (P=0.022 by Kruskal-Wallis test; error bars indicate the standard deviation). (B and C) siRNA knockdown of COL6A1 causes significant decreases in epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins, such as vimentin but increased the expression of E-cad in BxPC-M8 cells, as determined by western blotting (left panel). Relative semi-quantitative analysis results are also presented (right panel). (D and E) COL6A1 knockdown revealed decreases in the migration and invasion of BxPC-M8 cells as determined by Boyden Chamber and Matrigel-coated Boyden Chamber assays, respectively. Images are Giemsa stained and captured at x100 magnification. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001. COL6A1, collagen type VI α1 chain; E-cad, E-cadherin; N-cad, N-cadherin; MMP-9, matrix metalloproteinase-9; NC, negative control; siRNA, small interfering RNA; Si3, third siRNA.