Open AccessNUF2 as an anticancer therapeutic target and prognostic factor in breast cancer
Author(s) -
Shanmei Lv,
Wenjie Xu,
Yanyan Zhang,
Jiling Zhang,
Xuejun Dong
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.405
H-Index - 122
ISSN - 1019-6439
DOI - 10.3892/ijo.2020.5141
Subject(s) - cell cycle , gene knockdown , oncogene , cancer research , small interfering rna , cell growth , biology , cancer , apoptosis , cell cycle checkpoint , western blot , breast cancer , cell , transfection , microbiology and biotechnology , cell culture , biochemistry , gene , genetics
Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer, and the leading cause of cancer‑associated mortality in females worldwide. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic and therapeutic potential of NUF2 in BC. The expression levels of NUF2 in BC tissues and cell lines were evaluated via bioinformatics, reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR, western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In addition, the effect of NUF2 knockdown on BC cell proliferation and apoptosis was investigated using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology. Bioinformatics and IHC analysis showed that NUF2 was overexpressed in BC tissues. Furthermore, western blot and RT‑qPCR analyses demonstrated that NUF2 was upregulated in BC cells. In addition, BC cells transfected with NUF2 siRNA exhibited significantly decreased proliferation and colony formation, and increased apoptosis, compared with the control. Additionally, cell cycle analysis revealed that NUF2 induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest by inhibiting cyclin B1 expression. Collectively, the present study suggested that NUF2 may represent a promising prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for BC.