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Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research

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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Karyopherin alpha 2 is a novel prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for colon cancer

Authors: Yu Zhang, Meng Zhang, Fudong Yu, Su Lu, Huimin Sun, Huamei Tang, Zhihai Peng

Published in: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

Karyopherin alpha 2 (KPNA2), a member of the karyopherin family, plays a vital role in carcinogenesis. Yet its role in colon cancer is poorly characterized. We sought to clarify the clinical significance of its dysregulated expression in human colon tumor specimens.

Methods

We evaluated KPNA2 mRNA and protein expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting in 40 primary colon cancer tissues and paired adjacent normal colon mucosa specimens. KPNA2 protein expression in colon tissue microarray of tumor and normal tissue specimens and lymph node metastasis specimens obtained from 195 colon cancer patients were analyzed immunohistochemically. The effect of KPNA2 knockdown on carcinogenesis potential of human colon cancer cells was determined using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), colony formation, cell migration, and tumorigenesis in nude mice.

Results

KPNA2 was expressed at higher levels in colon tumors and lymph node metastasis specimens than in normal tissues. Patients with KPNA2-positive tumors were significantly correlated with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage (p = 0.01), T-classification (p = 0.018), regional lymph node metastasis (p = 0.025), distant metastasis (p = 0.014), and differentiated degree (p = 0.001). KPNA2 was shown to be an independent prognostic indicator of disease-free survival (HR 1.681; 95 % CI: 1.170–2.416; p = 0.005) and overall survival (HR 2.770; 95 % CI: 1.314–5.837; p = 0.007) for patients with colon cancer. Knockdown of KPNA2 expression inhibited colon cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration.

Conclusion

KPNA2 might play an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis and functions as a novel prognostic indicator and a potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.

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Title: Karyopherin alpha 2 is a novel prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for colon cancer
Authors: Yu Zhang
Meng Zhang
Fudong Yu
Su Lu
Huimin Sun
Huamei Tang
Zhihai Peng
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1756-9966
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-015-0261-3

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