PKM2 promotes lymphatic metastasis of hypopharyngeal carcinoma via regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition: an experimental research

作者全名："Zhou, Xin; Li, Yanshi; Pan, Min; Lu, Tao; Liu, Chuan; Wang, Zhihai; Tang, Fengxiang; Hu, Guohua"

作者地址："[Zhou, Xin; Li, Yanshi; Pan, Min; Lu, Tao; Liu, Chuan; Wang, Zhihai; Tang, Fengxiang; Hu, Guohua] Chongqing Med Univ, Dept Otolaryngol, Affiliated Hosp 1, 1 Youyi Rd, Chongqing 400016, Peoples R China; [Zhou, Xin] Chongqing Tradit Chinese Med Hosp, Dept Otolaryngol, Chongqing, Peoples R China"

通信作者："Hu, GH (通讯作者)，Chongqing Med Univ, Dept Otolaryngol, Affiliated Hosp 1, 1 Youyi Rd, Chongqing 400016, Peoples R China."

来源：DIAGNOSTIC PATHOLOGY

ESI学科分类：CLINICAL MEDICINE

WOS号：WOS:001178048400001

JCR分区：Q2

影响因子：2.4

年份：2024

卷号：19

期号：1

开始页：　

结束页：　

文献类型：Article

关键词：Hypopharyngeal carcinoma; Lymphatic metastasis; Pyruvate kinase M2; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Foot-pad xenograft model

摘要："BackgroundPatients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HPC) have a poor prognosis mainly because of lymphatic metastasis. This research aimed to determine the PKM2 role in lymphatic metastasis in HPC and the underlying molecular mechanism contributing to this phenomenon.MethodsPKM2 in HPC was studied for its expression and its likelihood of overall survival using TCGA dataset. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, and IHC were employed to confirm PKM2 expression. Methods including gain- and loss-of-function were used to examine the PKM2 role in HPC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. In vitro and in vivo studies also confirmed lymphatic metastasis's mechanism.ResultsProminent PKM2 overexpression was seen in patients with lymphatic metastasis of HPC, and there was an inherent relationship between a high PKM2 level and poor prognosis. In vitro research showed that knocking down PKM2 decreased tumor cell invasion, migration, and proliferation while promoting apoptosis and inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, but overexpressing PKM2 had the reverse effect. Animal studies suggested that PKM2 may facilitate tumor development and lymphatic metastasis.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that PKM2 may be a tumor's promoter gene of lymphatic metastasis, which may promote lymphatic metastasis of HPC by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. PKM2 may be a biomarker of metastatic potential, ultimately providing a basis for exploring new therapeutic targets."

基金机构：China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

基金资助正文：We sincerely thank to all team members for their assistance for this work.