Objective  To investigate the role of JAK2/STAT3 pathway in the invasion and migration of human colon cancer cells induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF).    Methods  The human colon cancer cell LoVo were divide into 3 groups

control group

EGF treatment group (10 ng/ml

EGF group)

EGF and AG490 (an inhibitor of JAK2) treatment group (10 ng/ml and 50 μmol/L respectively

EGF+AG490 group). The migration of LoVo cells was measured with scratch assay

and invasion was measured by Transwell chamber. Expressions of P-STAT3 and E-cadherin proteins in the cells were detected by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining.   Results  Compared with the control and EGF+AG490 group

EGF increased the wound healing [38% vs 40% vs 80%

P0.05]

enhanced the expression of P-STAT3 by 72.4%

and decreased the expression of E-cadherin by 68.5%. The invasion assay demonstrated the number of LoVo cells in EGF group was larger than those of EGF+AG490 and control group (55.08±2.14 vs 23.19±3.50 vs 21.24±2.65

P0.05). In EGF group

E-cadherin was located in the cytoplasm.   Conclusion  EGF regulates the expression and location of E-cadherin in LoVo cells through JAK2/STAT3 pathway

and increases the migration and invasion of human colon cancer cells.