Leucine-rich Repeat-containing 15 as a Potential Marker and Therapeutic Target in Cervical Cancer

Leucine-rich repeat-containing 15 (LRRC15) is a recently identified cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) marker found in various types of cancer. However, its functional role and clinical significance in cervical cancer (CC) remain unclear.

We analyzed LRRC15 expression in 20 normal cervical (NC) tissue samples and 87 CC tissue samples using RT-qPCR. Correlations between LRRC15 expression and clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in CC patients were evaluated. The biological functions of LRRC15 and its effects were investigated in CC cell lines with and without human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

LRRC15 expression was significantly associated with lympho-vascular space (LVS) involvement in patients with CC (p<0.001). Patients with high LRRC15 expression had significantly poorer progression-free survival outcomes than those with low LRRC15 expression (p=0.014). LRRC15 knockdown suppressed WNT and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling, leading to increased Caspase3/7 expression and, consequently, enhanced apoptosis in CC cells, regardless of HPV infection.

LRRC15 expression is a marker of poorer prognosis in patients with CC, suggesting that LRRC15 represents a potential therapeutic strategy for CC.