Ezrin-
radixin-
moesin (ERM)-binding
phosphoprotein 50 (EBP50) has previously been demonstrated to be associated with the malignant transformation of numerous types of human
cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of EBP50 overexpression on
pancreatic cancer and the underlying mechanism. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of EBP50 in human
pancreatic cancer tissue specimens. Furthermore, pBK-CMV-HA-EBP50 and the pBK-CMV-HA vectors were transfected into
pancreatic cancer cells and the effect of EBP50 upregulation on the proliferation and invasion of the cells was investigated. In addition, the effect of EBP50 overexpression on β-
catenin and
E-cadherin expression was evaluated. The results revealed that overexpression of EBP50 suppressed cell growth and invasion in two human
pancreatic cancer cell lines. Overexpression of EBP50 also suppressed β-
catenin expression and increased
E-cadherin expression. Thus, the present study demonstrated that EBP50 inhibits
pancreatic cancer cell growth and invasion through targeting the β-
catenin/
E-cadherin pathway. The results suggest that EBP50 may function as a potential
tumor suppressor and thus may serve as a potential therapeutic target.