Transcription Factor E2F4 Promote Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Gastric Cancer Cells by transcriptionally activating DSCC1

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks as the fifth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Despite advancements in molecular profiling, the mechanisms driving GC proliferation and metastasis remain unclear. This study identifies Early 2 Factor 4 (E2F4) as a key transcription factor that promotes GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by upregulating DNA Replication and Sister Chromatid Cohesion 1 (DSCC1) expression. Bioinformatics and transcription factor analyses revealed E2F4 as a significant regulator of DSCC1. Functional assays confirmed E2F4's role in enhancing GC cell malignancy in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown and overexpression experiments demonstrated that E2F4 positively regulates DSCC1 at the transcriptional level, with ChIP-qPCR and dual luciferase reporter assays validating the binding sites on the DSCC1 promoter. These findings highlight the E2F4-DSCC1 axis as a potential therapeutic target to mitigate GC progression.