A novel autophagy-related genes prognostic risk model and validation of autophagy-related oncogene VPS35 in breast cancer

Cancer Cell International

Xinmiao Yu¹  Feng Jin¹  Yu Cao¹  Xiaoying Li²  Yang Li³ 

[1] Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing Road, 110001, Shenyang, China;Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing Road, 110001, Shenyang, China;Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Health Commission of the PRC, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of the PRC, China Medical University, No. 77, Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, 110122, Shenyang, Liaoning, China;Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Health Commission of the PRC, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of the PRC, China Medical University, No. 77, Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, 110122, Shenyang, Liaoning, China;

关键词: Breast cancer;    Autophagy;    Autophagy-related encoding genes (ARGs) prognosis;    Risk model;    VPS35;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12935-021-01970-4

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAccumulating evidence implies that autophagy plays a critical role in breast cancer development and progression. It is crucial to screen out autophagy-related encoding genes (ARGs) with prognostic value in breast cancer and reveal their biological properties in the aggressiveness of breast cancer.MethodsUnivariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to identify a prognostic risk model of ARGs from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Kaplan–Meier analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to validate the risk model. Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were conducted to assess the expression of VPS35 (one of ARGs in risk model). CCK8, Colony formation assay, Transwell migration/invasion assays and autophagy flux assay were used to confirm biological function of VPS35 in breast cancer.ResultsIn this study, the prognostic risk model consisting of six ARGs (VPS35, TRIM21, PRKAB2, RUFY4, MAP1LC3A and LARP1) in breast cancer were identified. The risk model was further verified as a novel independent prognostic factor for breast cancer patients. We also clarified that vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 35 (VPS35), one of ARGs in the risk model, was upregulated in breast cancer samples and cell lines. VPS35 overexpression was correlated with more aggressive phenotype of breast cancer and indicated worse prognosis in both progression-free survival and overall survival analyses. Meanwhile, VPS35 knockdown inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion, suggesting that VPS35 promoted the progression of breast cancer. VPS35 silence also influenced autophagy process, indicating that VPS35 was essential for autophagy completion.ConclusionTaken together, the six ARGs risk model has a remarkably prognostic value for breast cancer. Among them, VPS35 might exert as a significant oncogenic and prognostic factor for breast cancer and could be a promising autophagy-related therapeutic target in clinical practice.

【 授权许可】

CC BY