Slingshot phosphatase 3 (SSH3) is a member of the SSH phosphatase family that regulates actin filament dynamics. However, its role in cancer metastasis is relatively unclear compared to that of SSH1. Here, we showed that SSH3 was upregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC). Of note, SSH3 was upregulated in the tumor thrombus and lymph node metastasis compared with that in paired primary CRC tissues. High SSH3 expression was associated with the aggressive phenotype of CRC and may be an independent prognostic factor for the poor survival of patients with CRC. SSH3 significantly enhanced the invasion and metastasis of CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, SSH3 regulated the remodeling of actin, which is involved in the cytoskeleton signaling pathway, through its interaction with LIMK1/Rac1 and subsequently promoted CRC cell invasion and metastasis. Our data elucidate an important role for SSH3 in the progression of CRC, and SSH3 may be considered a potential therapeutic target for CRC.
Keywords: LIMK1; Rac1; SSH3; colorectal cancer; invasion; metastasis.