Figure 3.

Overexpression of PAK4 can promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC. (A) The expression level of PAK4 was examined after stable transfection with flag empty vector or Flag‐pak4 in KYSE30 and KYSE150 cells. The overexpression efficiency was detected by Western blot analysis. The proliferation of KYSE30 and KYSE150 cells transfected with empty vector or flag‐pak4 was examined using a cell viability assay (B) and a soft agar colony formation assay (C). The asterisks indicate that the rate of cell proliferation in Flag‐pak4 KYSE30 and KYSE150 cells was significantly higher than that in control KYSE30 and KYSE150 cells (*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001). Data are shown as the mean ± SD from triplicate experiments. The migration and invasion of KYSE30 and KYSE150 cells transfected with empty vector or Flag‐pak4 were examined by wound healing assay (D) and Transwell invasion assay (E). The asterisks indicate that the rate of cell migration and invasion in Flag‐pak4 KYSE30 and KYSE150 cells was significantly higher than that in control KYSE30 and KYSE150 cells (*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001). Data are shown as the mean ± SD from triplicate experiments. ESCC, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]