Open AccessIdentification of LBX2 as a novel causal gene of lung adenocarcinoma
Author(s) -
Hu Jingwen,
Bai Yongkang,
Zhang Quanli,
Li Ming,
Yin Rong,
Xu Lin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
thoracic cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1759-7714
pISSN - 1759-7706
DOI - 10.1111/1759-7714.13506
Subject(s) - cancer research , adenocarcinoma , gene knockdown , cell growth , lung cancer , cell migration , ectopic expression , immunohistochemistry , medicine , tumor progression , pathology , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , cancer , metastasis , biology , cell , gene , genetics
Background Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most predominant histological type of lung cancer with a poor prognosis. In this study, we demonstrate that LBX2 regulates cell proliferation, migration and invasion and the potential molecular mechanism in LUAD. Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset was accessed to screen for novel genes and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays were performed to determine the association between LBX2 expression and clinicopathological features of LUAD. 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine, colony formation and Real Time xCELLigence analysis system were used to evaluate the cell proliferation abilities of LUAD. Wound healing, transwell and Matrigel assays were used to detect cell migration and invasion capacities. Xenograft tumor models were used to assess the oncogenic role of LBX2 in vivo. Results We found that LBX2 was hyperexpressed in LUAD and correlated with clinicopathological features and poor prognosis in LUAD patients. Knockdown of LBX2 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion of LUAD, whereas ectopic expression of LBX2 enhanced tumor growth, migration, and invasion. We further found that LBX2 might participate in epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression and influence EMT‐related gene expression. Conclusions The current study suggests that LBX2 plays an oncogenic role in LUAD and may participate in tumor proliferation, migration, and invasion through EMT progression. Key points Significant findings of the study LBX2 might participate in LUAD cell proliferation, migration and invasion via EMT progression. What this study adds LBX2 may represent a potential biomarker and a promising therapeutic target for LUAD .