KIF15 is An Oncogene of Prostate Cancer and is A Key Prognostic Factor in Patients with Prostate Cancer
Abstract Background KIF15, a member of kinesin superfamily proteins, has been found that play a of vital role in the carcinogenesis of various malignant tumor. But whether KIF15 can facilitate the evolution of prostate cancer (PCa) is still unknown. This study aims to explore its biological function in PCa cells and its relevance to prognosis and clinical features in PCa patients. Material and Methods KIF15 expression at mRNA and protein level in tumor and normal tissues was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Then the correlations between KIF15 expression and PCa patients’ clinical characteristics was analyzed. After inhibiting the expression of KIF15 by shRNA, the role of KIF15 on proliferative capacity of PCa was evaluated by using MTT assay. The function of KIF15 on metastatic potential of PCa was determined by using transwell assay. The prognostic value of KIF15 was determined by using bioinformatics analysis. Results Compared with normal tissues, KIF15 was overexpressed in PCa tissues. After knocking down KIF15 in C4-2 and Lncap cell lines, the proliferation (P < 0.001) and invasion (P < 0.001) capabilities of tumor cells are significantly reduced compared to the shCON group. The proliferation marker Ki67 and the metastasis-related marker MMP9 were also significantly reduced in two cell lines after silencing KIF15. Except that, increased KIF15 in tumor tissue is associated with clinical stage (P = 0.004), seminal vesicle invasion (P = 0.02), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.03), and poor disease-free survival (P < 0.05) in PCa patients. Conclusions The results proved that KIF15 might served as a prognostic factor and therapeutic target in prostate cancer, and play as a vital regulatory factor in tumorigenesis and cancer development of prostate cancer.