Open Access

ARTICLE

ANLN Promotes Cervical Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration and Invasion and Suppresses Apoptosis via the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

Lingling Zhang^1,2, Hualing Wang³, Yawen Liu², Ling Li^2,*, Jianping Xiong^1,4,*

1 Graduate Department, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
2 Department of Oncology, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Nanchang, 330006, China
3 Department of Gynecological Oncology, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, 330006, China
4 Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China

* Corresponding Authors: Ling Li. Email: ; Jianping Xiong. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Genetic Biomarkers of Cancer: Insights into Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms)

BIOCELL 2025, 49(2), 253-267. https://doi.org/10.32604/biocell.2025.061585

Received 28 November 2024; Accepted 01 January 2025; Issue published 28 February 2025

Abstract

Objective: Anillin (ANLN) is considered an oncogene in various cancers, but its effect on cervical cancer remains poorly understood. Hence, this study aimed to describe the action of ANLN on cervical cancer development and investigate the potential mechanism. Methods: Analysis of ANLN expression and its association with survival in carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) patients based on GEO and UALCAN databases. The tumor and adjacent normal tissues of 100 cervical cancer cases were harvested to detect the ANLN expression and explore its relationship with patient survival. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were measured by utilizing 5-ethynyl-2^′-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, Flow cytometry, and Transwell assay, respectively. ANLN and Wnt expression were analyzed by RT-qPCR and Western Blot. Results: ANLN was significantly elevated in tumor tissues, and cervical cancer cases with high ANLN expression exhibited poor survival and high dead proportion. Besides, ANLN induced cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and restrained cell apoptosis. In addition, ANLN promoted Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation. Furthermore, ANLN accelerated cell aggressive behaviors and suppressed cell apoptosis via activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cervical cancer. Conclusion: ANLN was enhanced in cervical cancer tissues and related to poor prognosis. ANLN accelerated cervical cancer cell aggressive behaviors and suppressed cell apoptosis via activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

---

Keywords

---