HPV16 E6E7 up-regulates KIF2A expression by activating JNK/c-Jun signal, is beneficial to migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells

KIF2A correlates with lymphovascular invasion and higher tumor stage, and can be used to predict worse prognosis in patients with endometrial carcinoma

Kinesin family protein 2A (KIF2A) is a microtubule depolymerase that participates in the progression of various cancers; however, its clinical utility in endometrial carcinoma (EC) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to assess KIF2A expression and its relationship with prognosis in patients with EC. Data from 230 patients with EC who underwent tumor resection were reviewed in the current, retrospective study. KIF2A expression was measured in 230 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens of tumor tissue and 50 FFPE specimens of non-tumor tissue using immunohistochemistry (IHC). KIF2A expression was elevated in EC tumor tissue vs. non-tumor tissue (P<0.001). Furthermore, tumor KIF2A expression was linked with lymphovascular invasion (P=0.004) and higher International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (P=0.001). High tumor KIF2A expression (IHC score>3) was correlated with shorter disease-free survival (DFS; P=0.014) and overall survival (OS; P=0.012). Moreover, the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves revealed that tumor KIF2A expression had an acceptable use for estimating the relapse and death risks at each timepoint within 6 years, with each area under the curve remaining stable at ≥0.7. Notably, tumor KIF2A expression (high vs. low) independently forecast shorter DFS (hazard ratio, 2.506; P=0.013), but not OS (P>0.05). Furthermore, information from The Human Protein Atlas database indicated that high tumor KIF2A expression was associated with worse OS in patients with EC (P=0.027). Tumor KIF2A is not only associated with lymphovascular invasion and higher FIGO stage, but also reflects unfavorable survival in patients with EC.

IGF2BP1 facilitates non-small cell lung cancer progression by regulating the KIF2A-mediated Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BPs) are crucially implicated in the cancer progression. The current study intends to excavate and clarify the mechanisms of the key IGF2BPs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The expression of IGF2BPs and kinesin family member 2A (KIF2A) was examined using immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blot in NSCLC tissue samples or cell lines. NSCLC cell viability was examined using a cell counting kit-8 assay. Cell apoptotic rate was assessed using flow cytometry analysis. The migration and invasion of H1299 cells were subject to scratch test and Transwell assays, respectively. Starbase 2.0 was used to detect the downstream factors of the IGF2BP1 protein. The binding of IGF2BP with KIF2A was detected using RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation assays. Ki-67 immunohistochemistry assay and TUNEL assays were applied for the evaluation of proliferation and apoptosis in vivo, respectively. IGF2BP1 was upregulated in NSCLC tissue samples and cells. Functionally, IGF2BP1 overexpression promoted the proliferative ability, migration, and invasiveness of H1299 cells, while inhibiting cell apoptosis in vitro. In vivo studies revealed that overexpression of IGF2BP1 promoted tumor growth of NSCLC. Mechanistically, IGF2BP1 was involved in KIF2A mRNA stabilization. KIF2A exerted the same functions as IGF2BP1 via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In conclusion, IGF2BP1 enhances NSCLC malignant progression by stabilizing KIF2A to modulate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

The mediating role of AKT/ERK/JNK signaling on the malignant phenotype of microcystin-LR in gastric adenocarcinoma cells

Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR), a widely distributed and highly toxic environmental pollutant, plays crucial roles in cancer malignancy by activating characteristically toxic signaling pathways. Traditional animal-based toxicity evaluation methods have proven insufficient for identifying the specific role of these signaling pathways. Therefore, this study aimed to uncover the regulatory relationship between the toxic pathways and the progression of gastric cancer (GC). The findings provide novel avenues for conducting in vitro toxicity tests based on the investigated pathways. We found that MC-LR promoted the migration and invasion of SGC-7901 cells while simultaneously inhibiting their apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. This observed cytotoxicity was primarily mediated through the AKT, JNK, and ERK signaling pathways. By using a mediation analysis model, we determined that AKT and ERK exhibited competitive effects in MC-LR-treated GC malignancy, while AKT and JNK acted independently from one another. This study establishes an in vitro toxicity test model of MC-LR based on toxicity-related pathways and underscores the pivotal roles of AKT, ERK, and JNK signaling in MC-LR toxicity. The findings offer a novel, fundamental framework for conducting chemical toxicity risk assessment.