Prof. Shi Benkang and Associate Prof. Zou Yongxin published a paper in Molecular Cancer to reveal a new mechanism of bladder cancer metastasis

On May 18, 2018, Prof. Shi Benkang, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, and Associate Professor Zou Yongxin of Associate Professor Gong yaoqin team, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, published in the Journal Molecular Cancer(zone 1, CAS, IF=15.302) titled "KDM6A-ArhGDIB axis blocks Progression of bladder cancer by Loach 1".Liu Lei, a physician from Qilu Hospital, and Cui Jianfeng, a doctoral candidate from the School of Clinical Medicine of Shandong University, are the co-first authors of this paper. Professor Shi Benkang and Associate Professor Zou Yongxin are the co-corresponding authors of this paper. Qilu Hospital of Shandong University is the first author unit, and Qilu Hospital of Shandong University and Basic Medical College are the co-corresponding units.

The study found that FOXA1 binds to the KDM6A gene promoter and promotes its transcription in bladder cancer cells. Through epigenetic activation of ARHGDIB transcription, KDM6A inhibits Rac1 activity, inhibits skeletal remodeling, changes in the microenvironment of bladder cancer cells, and reduces the metastatic ability of bladder cancer. EZH2 antagonizes KDM6A by promoting H3K27 methylation. Thus, the inactivation mutation of KDM6A or activation of EZH2 may lead to inhibition of ARHGDIB expression and promote bladder cancer metastasis. Therefore, inhibition of EZH2 can be used as a targeted therapy strategy for bladder cancer patients with FOXA1 and KDM6A mutations and reduced expression. This study confirmed the key role of the foxA1-KDM6A-ARHGDIB axis in bladder cancer metastasis, suggesting its potential significance in individualized treatment of patients, and providing new ideas for clinical treatment decisions of bladder cancer.

Paper link: https://molecular-cancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12943-021-01369-9