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ABSTRACT: Background
The human positive cofactor 4 (PC4) is initially identified as a transcriptional cofactor and has an important role in embryonic development and malignant transformation. However, the clinical significance and the molecular mechanisms of PC4 in breast cancer development and progression are still unknown.Methods
We investigated PC4 expression in 114 cases of primary breast cancer and matched normal breast tissue specimens, and studied the impact of PC4 expression as well as the molecular mechanisms of this altered expression on breast cancer growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo.Results
PC4 was significantly upregulated in breast cancer and high PC4 expression was positively correlated with metastasis and poor prognosis of patients. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) demonstrated that the gene sets of cell proliferation and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) were positively correlated with elevated PC4 expression. Consistently, loss of PC4 markedly inhibited the growth and metastasis of breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, PC4 exerted its oncogenic functions by directly binding to c-Myc promoters and inducing Warburg effect.Conclusions
Our study reveals for the first time that PC4 promotes breast cancer progression by directly regulating c-Myc transcription to promote Warburg effect, implying a novel therapeutic target for breast cancer.
SUBMITTER: Luo P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6469038 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Luo Peng P Zhang Chi C Liao Fengying F Chen Long L Liu Zhenyu Z Long Lei L Jiang Zhongyong Z Wang Yawei Y Wang Ziwen Z Liu Zujuan Z Miao Hongming H Shi Chunmeng C
Cell communication and signaling : CCS 20190416 1
<h4>Background</h4>The human positive cofactor 4 (PC4) is initially identified as a transcriptional cofactor and has an important role in embryonic development and malignant transformation. However, the clinical significance and the molecular mechanisms of PC4 in breast cancer development and progression are still unknown.<h4>Methods</h4>We investigated PC4 expression in 114 cases of primary breast cancer and matched normal breast tissue specimens, and studied the impact of PC4 expression as wel ...[more]