Co-Expression of Chromatin Assembly Factor 1 Subunit A and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Is a Prognostic Biomarker of Esophageal Cancer
Bing Wen,
Dan-Xia Deng,
Lian-Di Liao,
Zhi-Da Zhang,
Ya-Qi Zheng,
Ke Dong,
Li-Yan Xu,
En-Min Li
Affiliations
Bing Wen
The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for the High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Dan-Xia Deng
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Lian-Di Liao
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Zhi-Da Zhang
The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for the High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Ya-Qi Zheng
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Ke Dong
The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for the High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Li-Yan Xu
The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for the High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
En-Min Li
The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for the High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
(1) Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is an important global health challenge. Due to the lack of necessary biomarkers and therapeutic targets, the survival of EC patients is poor. The EC proteomic data of 124 patients recently published by our group provides a database for research in this field. (2) Methods: Bioinformatics analysis was used to identify DNA replication and repair-related proteins in EC. Proximity ligation assay, colony formation assay, DNA fiber assay, and flow cytometry were used to study the effects of related proteins on EC cells. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between gene expression and the survival time of EC patients. (3) Results: Chromatin assembly factor 1 subunit A (CHAF1A) was highly correlated with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in EC. CHAF1A and PCNA colocalized in the nucleus of EC cells. Compared with the knockdown of CHAF1A or PCNA alone, the double knockdown of CHAF1A and PCNA could significantly inhibit EC cell proliferation. Mechanistically, CHAF1A and PCNA synergistically accelerated DNA replication and promoted S-phase progression. EC patients with high expression of both CHAF1A and PCNA had a worse survival rate. (4) Conclusion: we identify CHAF1A and PCNA as key cell cycle-related proteins leading to the malignant progression of EC, and these proteins could serve as important prognostic biomarkers and targets for EC.
