HNRNPD is a prognostic biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer and affects tumor growth and metastasis via the PI3K-AKT pathway

ABSTRACT

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D (HNRNPD) can regulate expression of key proteins in various cancers. However, the prognostic predictive value and biology function of HNRNPD in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. First, we used the TCGA and GEO datasets to determine that HNRNPD predicts the prognosis of NSCLC patients. Following that, we knocked down HNRNPD in NSCLC cell lines in vitro and validated its biological function using CCK-8, transwell assays, wound healing tests, and Western blotting. Finally, we constructed tissue microarrays (TMAs) from 174 NSCLC patients and verified our findings using immunohistochemistry staining for HNRNPD from public databases. In both the public datasets, NSCLC tissues with elevated HNRNPD expression had shorter overall survival (OS). In addition, HNRNPD knockdown NSCLC cell lines showed significantly reduced proliferation, invasion, and metastatic capacity via the PI3K-AKT pathway. Finally, elevated HNRNPD expression in NSCLC TMAs was linked to a poorer prognosis and decreased PD-L1 expression levels. HNRNPD is associated with a poorer prognosis in NSCLC and affects tumor growth and metastasis via the PI3K-AKT pathway.

KEYWORDS:

• HNRNPD
• non-small cell lung cancer
• prognosis
• immune microenvironment
• biomarker

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [82073264]; the National Key Research and Development Program of China [2016YFC1304601]

Notes on contributors

Guoqing Fan

Guoqing Fan is a PhD student in Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College.

Danni Li

Danni Li is a technologist-in-charge in Department of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Hospital.

Jingjing Liu

Jingjing Liu is a resident physician in Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University.

Ningning Tao

Ningning Tao is a resident physician in Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University.

Chao Meng

Chao Meng is a PhD student in Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College.

Ju Cui

Ju Cui is working as a professor in The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing Hospital.

Jianping Cai

Jianping Cai is working as a professor in The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing Hospital.

Tieying Sun

Tieying Sun is a professor and chief physician at Department of Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care, Beijing Hospital.