Kif4a: A Potential Biomarker For Prediction And Prognostic Of Prostate Cancer

Purpose: To investigate the clinical relevance and biological function of the kinesin super-family protein 4A (KIF4A) expression in prostate cancer (PCa).Methods: We examined 1) the relationship between the expression of KIF4A and clinico-pathological characteristics of PCa patients using a tissue microarray and the Cancer Genome Atlas database, 2) the prognostic value of KIF4A expression in patients using Kaplan-Meier plots and 3) the functions of KIF4A in LNCaP and DU145 cells, such as cell proliferation, cell cycle and cell apoptosis.Results: Compared with normal prostate, the mRNA and protein expressions of KIF4A were up-regulated in PCa. The up-regulation expression rates of KIF4A in PCa were significantly related to the Gleason score (P<0.001). The elevated KIF4A level also predicted independently a poor biochemical recurrence-free and disease-free survival of PCa patients. The ectopic expression of KIF4A in PCa was significantly positively associated with the capability of migration and proliferation.Conclusion: Over-expression of KIF4A correlated with the aggressiveness of PCa and with biochemical recurrence-free survival. Thus, KIF4A is a potential diagnostic indicator and therapeutic target for PCa.