Oncogene ATAD2 promotes cell proliferation, invasion and migration in cervical cancer

The ATPase family AAA domain-containing protein 2 (ATAD2) is associated with many cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, invasion and migration. However, the molecular biological function of the ATAD2 gene in cervical cancer is unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore ATAD2 expression in cervical cancer, evaluate the relationship between the development of cervical cancer, metastasis and clinicopathological characteristics, and discuss the implications for its use in clinical treatment. Protein and mRNA expression of ATAD2 was examined in tissues and cell lines. Tumor tissues from 135 cases of cervical cancer were collected for evaluation of ATAD2 expression by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Prognostic significance was evaluated by the Cox hazards model and Kaplan-Meier survival method. HeLa and SiHa cells were transfected with two siRNAs targeting ATAD2. ATAD2 knockdown was used to analyze cell proliferation, invasion and migration. Cell viability was evaluated with the Cell Counting Κit-8 (CCK-8) assay, cell invasion by a Transwell assay and cell migration by a wound healing/scratch migration assay. ATAD2 was shown to be highly expressed in cervical cancer tissues, both at the transcriptional and protein levels, and was correlated with poor patient survival (P<0.05). Knockdown of ATAD2 in the HeLa and SiHa cells was found to reduce the capacity for invasion and migration (P<0.05), and inhibited the growth and clonogenic potential of the HeLa and SiHa cell lines. Our results suggest that cervical cancer tissues may have highly expressed ATAD2, which is associated with tumor stage and lymph node status (P<0.05). Oncogene ATAD2 may play an important role in cervical cancer proliferation, invasion and migration. It could serve as a prognostic marker and a therapeutic target for cervical cancer.