Knockdown of KIF26B inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion

BACKGROUND: Kinesin family member 26B (KIF26B) plays a key role in the development and progression of many human cancers. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of KIF26B in breast cancer cells remain unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we inhibited the expression of KIF26B in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells using lentivirus-delivered shRNA. RESULTS: Lentivirus-mediated KIF26B knockdown significantly suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, cell cycle analyses revealed that the percentage of cells in the G0/G1 phase was significantly increased in KIF26B knockdown cells. Moreover, the knockdown of KIF26B significantly promoted cell apoptosis via the upregulation of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that KIF26B plays a pivotal role in tumor growth and metastasis in breast cancer cells and may be a potential therapeutic target for treating breast cancer.