Centromere Protein F Is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker and Target for Cutaneous Melanoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is an aggressive skin cancer with a poor prognosis, requiring new biomarkers and treatments.
• Centromere protein F (CENPF), a cell division regulator, has an unclear role in melanoma progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical significance, biological function, and regulatory mechanisms of CENPF in melanoma.
• To evaluate CENPF as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for CM.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of public melanoma datasets and validation in clinical samples (n=128) and cell lines.
• Functional assays (proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion) and bioinformatics analyses (GO, KEGG, GSEA, SCENIC).
• In vivo studies using xenograft models in mice to assess tumor growth and metastasis.

Main Results:

• CENPF was significantly upregulated in melanoma tissues and cell lines, correlating with advanced disease and poor survival.
• CENPF knockdown inhibited melanoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, inducing G2/M arrest and apoptosis.
• The E2F3-CENPF axis was identified as a key driver of cell cycle progression and P53 pathway suppression in melanoma.

Conclusions:

• CENPF is a significant prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in cutaneous melanoma.
• Targeting the E2F3-CENPF axis presents a novel therapeutic strategy for melanoma treatment.
• This study provides crucial insights into melanoma pathogenesis and potential clinical applications.