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Breast Cancer Research
Published in: Breast Cancer Research 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

FOXF2 deficiency promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis of basal-like breast cancer

Authors: Qing-Shan Wang, Peng-Zhou Kong, Xiao-Qing Li, Fan Yang, Yu-Mei Feng

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Introduction

Our previous clinical study demonstrated that the under-expression of FOXF2 is associated with early-onset metastasis and poor prognosis of patients with triple-negative breast cancer. In this study, we further characterized the role of FOXF2 in metastasis of basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) and underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods

RT-qPCR, immunoblot, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were performed to assess the expression of genes and proteins in cell lines and tissues. A series of in vitro and in vivo assays was performed in the cells with RNAi-mediated knockdown or overexpression to elucidate the function and transcriptional regulatory role of FOXF2 in breast cancer.

Results

We found that FOXF2 was specifically expressed in most basal-like breast cells. FOXF2 deficiency enhanced the metastatic ability of BLBC cells in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, FOXF2 deficiency induced the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of basal-like breast cells. Furthermore, we identified that TWIST1 is a transcriptional target of FOXF2. TWIST1 was negatively regulated by FOXF2 and mediated the FOXF2-regulated EMT phenotype of basal-like breast cells and aggressive property of BLBC.

Conclusions

FOXF2 is a novel EMT-suppressing transcription factor in BLBC. FOXF2 deficiency enhances metastatic ability of BLBC cells by activating the EMT program through upregulating the transcription of TWIST1.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
FOXF2 deficiency promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis of basal-like breast cancer
Authors
Qing-Shan Wang
Peng-Zhou Kong
Xiao-Qing Li
Fan Yang
Yu-Mei Feng
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-015-0531-1

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