Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 18, 2025

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Prostate Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts
09:43

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Prostate Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

Published on: August 1, 2025

212

SP1-Mediated Upregulation of KIF4A Promotes Prostate Cancer Progression via Targeting TWIST1

Xiaofei Liu1, Shaoke Li1, Zhi Wang1

  • 1Department of Urology, Nanyang First People's Hospital, Nanyang, China.

Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology
|June 25, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Kinesin family member 4A (KIF4A) promotes prostate cancer by activating TWIST1 expression. Targeting KIF4A may inhibit tumor growth and metastasis, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Kinesin family member 4A (KIF4A) is highly expressed in various cancers, but its role in prostate cancer (PCa) is not fully understood.
  • Investigating the mechanisms underlying KIF4A's function in PCa is crucial for developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the role and underlying mechanisms of KIF4A in prostate cancer development.
  • To explore the regulatory pathway involving SP1, KIF4A, and TWIST1 in PCa progression.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatics analysis (TCGA, HPA, ENCORI), RT-qPCR, Western blot, CCK-8, EdU, colony formation, Transwell, wound-healing assays.
  • Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), dual-luciferase reporter assay, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), in vivo animal experiments, and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Main Results:

  • KIF4A expression is elevated in PCa tissues and cells, promoting proliferation, invasion, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
  • SP1 activates KIF4A, which in turn upregulates TWIST1, driving PCa progression. KIF4A knockdown inhibits tumor growth and EMT in vivo.
  • TWIST1 upregulation reverses the inhibitory effects of KIF4A downregulation on PCa progression.

Conclusions:

  • SP1-KIF4A-TWIST1 axis promotes prostate cancer development.
  • KIF4A is a potential therapeutic target for inhibiting prostate cancer progression and EMT.
Keywords:
KIF4ASP1TWIST1prostate cancer

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