Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate 1 Promotes HCC Proliferation and Metastasis in vitro and in vivo via the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Haichao Liu,1– 4 Jie Gao,1– 3 Xudong Liu,1– 3 Wenzhi Guo,1– 3 Shuijun Zhang1– 3 1Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China; 2Henan Key Laboratory for Digestive Organ Transplantation, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China; 3Henan Engineering Technology Research Center for Organ Transplantation, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Luoyang Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Luoyang, Henan, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Shuijun Zhang, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate 1 (STEAP1) in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, and to validate its potential as a therapeutic target.Materials and Methods: In this study, STEAP1-knockdown models were used to evaluate cell proliferation, invasion and migration. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were performed to explore downstream mechanisms. Subcutaneous Xenograft Model in nude mice was used to investigate the role of STEAP1 in the proliferation of HCC in vivo.Results: STEAP1 knockdown significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, downregulated the expression of EMT-related proteins, and suppressed activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. In vivo, STEAP1 silencing effectively reduced the growth of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice.Conclusion: STEAP1 promotes HCC growth and metastasis by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and may serve as a promising therapeutic target for HCC.Keywords: HCC, STEAP1, Wnt/β-catenin, metastasis