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Kctd20 promotes the development of non‐small cell lung cancer through activating Fak/AKT pathway and predicts poor overall survival of patients
Author(s) -
Zhang Xiupeng,
Zhou Haijing,
Cai Lin,
Fan Chuifeng,
Liu Yang,
Wang Liang,
Li Qingchang,
Miao Yuan
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
molecular carcinogenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.254
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1098-2744
pISSN - 0899-1987
DOI - 10.1002/mc.22660
Subject(s) - protein kinase b , cyclin d1 , cancer research , biology , downregulation and upregulation , carcinogenesis , cell growth , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , phosphorylation , lung cancer , western blot , cancer , signal transduction , cell cycle , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , genetics , gene
Kctd20 (potassium channel tetramerization protein domain containing 20) is a positive regulator of Akt signaling. However, the role of Kctd20 during the course of tumorigenesis and development is unclear. Using immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that, in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, Kctd20 protein expression significantly correlates with advanced TNM stage ( P < 0.001), positive status for regional lymph node metastasis ( P = 0.019), and poor overall survival ( P = 0.013). Proliferation and invasion assays showed that Kctd20 dramatically promotes the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells ( P = 0.007 and P < 0.001, respectively). Subsequent Western Blot and qPCR experiments revealed an upregulation of Cyclin D1 and downregulation of E‐cadherin in Kctd20‐overexpressing cells. After depleting Kctd20, downregulaton of Cyclin D1, and upegulation of E‐cadherin was observed. After overexpressing Kctd20, the levels of phosphorylated Fak (Tyr397) and Akt (Thr308) increased, while after transfection with Kctd20‐siRNA these phosporylated proteins were downregulated. Moreover, in Kctd20‐overexpressing cells, treatment with an Akt inhibitor reduced expression of p‐Akt and Cyclin D1, enhanced E‐cadherin expression, and did not impact p‐Fak levels. When Kctd20‐overexpressing cells were treated with a Fak inhibitor, the same effects were seen, and the level of p‐Akt was reduced. Our results suggest that Kctd20 impacts proliferation and invasion of NSCLC through enhancing Fak (Tyr397) and Akt (Thr 308) phosphorylation. Kctd20 may predict prognosis and be targeted therapeutically in NSCLC.