High Expression of Prospero-Related Homeobox-1 (PROX1) Is Associated With Poor Prognosis in Patients With Salivary Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Prospero homeobox 1 promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells and its clinical significance

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor. Prospero homeobox 1 (PROX1) is a key transcription factor involved in some cancers, but the role of PROX1 in OS is unclear. This study aimed to explore the clinical and biology significance of PROX1 in OS. Fifty-four OS tissues and matched nontumor tissues were collected to explore the relationship between PROX1 expression and clinical characteristics and prognosis. qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate the expression patterns of PROX1 in OS tissues and cells. CCK-8, wound healing, and transwell assays were used to detect the effects of PROX1 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OS cells. Transcriptome sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and qRT-PCR were used to explore the regulatory network of PROX1. PROX1 was significantly higher in OS tissues and cells compared to normal tissues and cell lines. In OS patients, high expression of PROX1 was associated with Enneking stage (P < 0.001) and M classification (P < 0.001). High PROX1 expression predicted a poorer overall survival (P = 0.0047). Compared with untreated cells, OS cells overexpressing PROX1 showed higher proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities, while knockdown of PROX1 suppressed these abilities. The results of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the down regulated genes were mainly enriched in TNF signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. High PROX1 expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival in OS patients. PROX1 may be a promising prognostic marker and therapeutic target for OS patients.

The association of transcription factor Prox1 with the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer

Background

The current study investigates the effect of transcription factor Prox1 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of lung cancer.

Methods

Lung cancer cell lines (A549 and H446 cells) were transfected with Prox1NAD and siRNA, respectively. Thus, the A549 and H446 cells overexpressed Prox1 after transfection of Prox1NAD plasmids, and A549 and H446 cells have low expression of Prox1 after transfection with siRNA. Reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR and western blot analyses were used to detect Prox1 mRNA and protein expression in cells. Plate clone formation experiments and MTT experiments were used to detect cell proliferation. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Rho family-related proteins in cells.

Results

Compared to untransfected wild-type A549 and H446 that served as blank controls, the expression level of Prox1mRNA and protein in A549 and H446 cells overexpressing Prox1 after plasmid transfection was high, while the expression level of Prox1mRNA and protein in A549 and H446 cells with low expression of Prox1 after siRNA transfection was low. With the increase of Prox1 expression, the expression of RhoA and RhoC increased, while the expression of RhoB decreased.

Conclusion

The finding of this study may provide a new approach for the treatment of lung cancer using targeted gene therapy.