Identification of KIF4A as a pan-cancer diagnostic and prognostic biomarker via bioinformatics analysis and validation in osteosarcoma cell lines

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a disease of abnormal cell proliferation caused by abnormal expression of cancer-related genes. However, it is still difficult to distinguish benign and malignant lesions in many cases. KIF4A has been reported to be associated with a variety of cancer lesions. We aimed to explore whether KIF4A could be used as a biomarker of pan-cancer diagnostic. METHODS: We identified twenty-eight cell cycle-related genes that were overexpressed in no less than ten types of cancer. We determined KIF4A mRNA and protein expression in osteosarcoma (OS) cells. Furthermore, to determine the effect of KIF4A in OS, we silenced KIF4A in OS cells and detected cell viability, colony formation, invasion, migration, apoptosis and cell cycle parameters. RESULTS: KIF4A exhibited upregulated expression in eleven types of cancer. Cell cycle-related genes are extensively overexpressed in various types of cancers. KIF4A overexpression can serve as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in various cancers. Silencing KIF4A inhibited the viability, colony formation, invasion and migration and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of OS cells. Our findings revealed that high expression of KIF4A could serve as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in OS cancers. CONCLUSION: KIF4A could serve as a pan-cancer diagnostic and prognostic marker. KIF4A could be used as a novel therapeutic target for OS.