UBE2V2 promotes metastasis by regulating EMT and predicts a poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma.

Abstract Background: Belonging to the ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) family, UBE2V2 demonstrated a remarkable tumourigenic ability in many kinds of cancers. However, the interrelationship between UBE2V2 expression and morbidity of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is still unknown. Methods: By using TCGA predictions and clinical tissue samples, we assessed the expression of UBE2V2 mRNA and protein in LUAD and analyzed its relationship with different clinicopathological factors as well as survival prognosis. Besides, we further studied the EMT signaling pathway that promotes LUAD metastasis and other phenotypic experiments by using lentivirus to transfect LUAD cells. Results: Our research results showed that compared with normal tissues, the expression of UBE2V2 mRNA and protein in LUAD was significantly increased (P<0.001). UBE2V2 might be considered as an independent prognostic molecule for LUAD patient survival prognosis based on TCGA prediction (HR:1.497 P=0.012) and immunohistochemical analysis (ICH) (HR:1.842 P=0.042). ICH showed that UBE2V2 was related to the following clinicopathological factors, including gender (P=0.021), stage (P=0.042), lymph node metastasis (P=0.021) and differentiated degree (P=0.015). Finally, knockdown of UBE2V2 significantly reduced the migration ability by regulating the EMT pathway. The knockdown of UBE2V2 inhibited cells proliferation, reduced the proportion of cells in S phase and promoted cell apoptosis. Interestingly, UBE2V2 expression is negatively correlated with B cells, CD4 + T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. Conclusions: In summary, UBE2V2 might play an important role in the progression of LUAD.