Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive tumour subtype associated with poor prognosis. The mechanisms involved in TNBC progression remains largely unknown. To date, there are no effective therapeutic targets for this tumour subtype. Paired-related homeobox 1b (Prrx1b), one of major isoforms of Prrx1, has been identified as a new epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inducer. However, the function of Prrx1b in TNBC has not been elucidated. In this study, we found that Prrx1b was significantly up-regulated in TNBC and associated with tumour size and vascular invasion of breast cancer. Silencing of Prrx1b suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of basal-like cancer cells. Moreover, silencing of Prrx1b prevented Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and induced the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). Taken together, our data indicated that Prrx1b may be an important regulator of EMT in TNBC cells and a new therapeutic target for interventions against TNBC invasion and metastasis.
Keywords: epithelial-mesenchymal transition; invasion; paired-related homeobox 1b; proliferation; triple-negative breast cancer.
© 2016 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.