Tetraspanin 8 (TSPAN8) as an important modulator of melanoma invasiveness, and several of its transcriptional regulators, which affect TSPAN8 expression during melanoma progression toward an invasive stage. p53 as a negative regulator of Tspan8 expression. p53 as a regulator of melanoma invasion and the concept that reactivating p53 could provide a strategy for modulating not only proliferative but also invasive capacity in melanoma treatment. Tetraspanin 8 (TSPAN8) is a tumor-associated antigen implicated in tumor progression and metastasis. TSPAN8 may play an important role in mCRC cell invasion. TSPAN8 was overexpressed in human gastric cancer tissues and gastric cancer cell lines compared with the normal. TSPAN8 overexpression promoted cell proliferation and invasion, while TSPAN8 suppression inhibited cell proliferation and invasion. TSPAN8 could activate the ERK MAPK pathway in gastric cancer cells, and MEK-ERK inhibition reversed the effects of TSPAN8 overexpression on cell proliferation and invasion.