Upregulated hPuf-A promotes breast cancer tumorigenesis

• Published in: Tumor biology 2013-10, Vol.34 (5), p.2557-2564
• Main Authors: Fan, Chi-Chen, Lee, Liek-Yeow, Yu, Ming-Ying, Tzen, Chi-Yuan, Chou, Chi, Chang, Mau-Sun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cancer Research; Carcinogenesis - metabolism; Carcinogenesis - pathology; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - metabolism; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating - secondary; Cell Line, Tumor; Female; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - metabolism; Lung Neoplasms - secondary; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Staging; Neoplasm Transplantation; Proteins; Research Article; RNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Tumor Burden; Tumors; Up-Regulation
• ISSN: 1010-4283; 1423-0380
• DOI: 10.1007/s13277-013-0801-4

hPuf-A is a member of RNA-binding PUF family that regulates mRNA translation. Redistribution of hPuf-A from the nucleolus to the nucleoplasm upon genotoxic stress modulates the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation activity of PARP-1. Here, we report a novel function of hPuf-A involved in promoting breast cancer progression. Immunohistochemical studies showed higher expression levels of hPuf-A in stage I, II, III, and IV breast cancer specimens in contrast with those of hPuf-A in ductal carcinoma in situ. The presence of hPuf-A is highly associated with colony formation capacities in breast cancer T47D and MDA-MB-231 cells. Xenograft growth of hPuf-A-silenced and hPuf-A overexpressing MDA-MB-231 cells in nude mice was substantially in concert with colony formation capacities. This promoting effect of hPuf-A in tumorigenesis might be correlated with the regulation of its associated mRNAs, such as RbAp48 and DDX3. Collectively, hPuf-A may have diagnostic values in breast cancer progression.