KIF20B correlates with LUAD progression and is an independent risk factor

Objective: Kinesin family proteins (KIFs) play crucial roles in human tumorigenesis and progression. This study aimed to investigate the expression and association of Kinesin family member 20B (KIF20B) with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Methods: RNA-seq data from LUAD patients (n=535) were extracted from TCGA. KIF20B expression was compared between tumor tissues and controls, and between different stages of the disease. Survival and Cox regression analyses were performed, as well as in vitro cellular experiments on A549 cells. Results: KIF20B is upregulated in LUAD tumor tissues compared with controls and is higher in advanced stages. Patients with high expression of KIF20B have shorter survival times. KIF20B is an independent risk factor for the prognosis of LUAD. High KIF20B expression samples were enriched in signaling pathways related to tumor progression. si-KIF20B transfection reduced migration and invasion of A549 cells and increased apoptosis. The expression of p53 and Bax proteins were upregulated by si-KIF20B, while Bcl-2 was down-regulated. Discussion: This study reveals that high KIF20B expression is an independent risk factor for the poor prognosis of LUAD. The inhibition of KIF20B might be of great value for suppressing LUAD progression.