Objective      To determine the effect of uridine triphosphate (UTP) on the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells and investigate related molecular mechanism.        Methods      Wound scratch assay was applied for examining the migration of gastric cancer MKN-45 and SGC-7901 cells. Transwell migration assay was used to analyze the invasion of human gastric mucosal GES-1 cells

MKN-45 and SGC-7901 cells. Western blot analysis was carried out to detect the phosphorylation of PTEN and the expression of vimentin.       Results      UTP inhibited the migration and invasion of MKN-45 and SGC-7901 cells (P0.05)

but not of GES-1 cells (P0.05). Western blot analysis showed that UTP increased the phosphorylation level of PTEN in MKN-45 and SGC-7901 cells

and meanwhile

down-regulated the expression of vimentin.       Conclusion      UTP inhibits the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells

probably through inducing the phosphorylation of PTEN and down-regulating the expression of vimentin.