Suppression of KIF22 Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Xenograft Tumor Growth in Colon Cancer

Kinesin family member 22 (KIF22) is known as a regulator of cell mitosis and cellular vesicle transport. The alterations of KIF22 are associated with a series of tumors; however, its possible role in the progression of colon cancer is still unclear. This retrospective research collected 82 paired tissues with colon cancer. KIF22 protein and mRNA expression levels were detected by immunohistochemistry assays and Immunoblot assays, respectively. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) plasmids were used to suppress the expression of KIF22 in HCT116 and HT29 cells, and the silencing efficiencies of shRNA plasmids targeted KIF22 were detected by quantitative PCR assays and immunoblot assays. In addition, 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays and xenograft tumor growth assays were performed to observe cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. In human colon cancer tissues, the expression level of KIF22 was increased and correlated with clinical pathological features, including tumor stage and clinical stage (p = 0.034, and p = 0.015, respectively). Suppression of KIF22 inhibited cell proliferation and xenograft tumor growth. KIF22 might play an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation in colon cancer and might therefore serve as a promising therapeutic target.