NOP14 suppresses breast cancer progression by inhibiting NRIP1/Wnt/β-catenin pathway
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Updated: Apr 6, 2026
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Published on: October 27, 2014
Jin-Ju Lei1, Rou-Jun Peng2, Bo-Hua Kuang1
1Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract:
NOP14, which is functionally conserved among eukaryotes, has been implicated in cancer development. Here, we show that NOP14 is poorly expressed in breast cancer cells and invasive breast cancer tissues. In vivo and in vitro studies indicated that NOP14 suppressed the tumorigenesis and metastasis of breast cancer cells. Further investigations revealed that NOP14 enhanced ERα expression and inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by up-regulating NRIP1 expression. Survival analysis indicated that low NOP14 expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival (P = 0.0006) and disease-free survival (P = 0.0007), suggesting that NOP14 is a potential prognostic factor in breast cancer. Taken together, our findings reveal that NOP14 may suppress breast cancer progression and provide new insights into the development of targeted therapeutic agents for breast cancer.
Insights
Nucleolar protein 14 (NOP14) suppresses breast cancer growth and spread. Low NOP14 levels correlate with poor patient survival, indicating its potential as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Nucleolar protein 14 (NOP14) is a conserved eukaryotic protein with a known role in cancer development.
- Its specific function and prognostic value in breast cancer remain largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of NOP14 in breast cancer progression.
- To determine the prognostic significance of NOP14 expression in breast cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of NOP14 expression in breast cancer cell lines and tissues.
- In vivo and in vitro functional assays to assess the impact of NOP14 on tumorigenesis and metastasis.
- Investigation of molecular mechanisms, including ERα and Wnt/β-catenin pathway signaling.
- Survival analysis correlating NOP14 expression with patient outcomes.
Main Results:
- NOP14 expression is significantly reduced in breast cancer cells and invasive tissues.
- NOP14 suppresses breast cancer cell tumorigenesis and metastasis in vitro and in vivo.
- NOP14 up-regulates NRIP1 expression, leading to enhanced ERα expression and inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
- Low NOP14 expression is strongly associated with poor overall and disease-free survival.
Conclusions:
- NOP14 acts as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer by inhibiting tumorigenesis and metastasis.
- NOP14 is a potential prognostic biomarker for breast cancer patients.
- Targeting NOP14 may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment.
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