NUCKS Promotes the Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Lung Cancer Cells Through Pi3k/Akt Signalling Pathway.

Purpose: Nuclear ubiquitous casein and cyclin-dependent kinases substrate (NUCKS) overexpression has been reported in various types of cancers. The purpose of this study is to clarify the role of NUCKS, underlying the involvement of non-small-cell lung cancer, in the progression of lung cancer.

Methods: The small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) of NUCKS was transfected into a lung cancer cell line (NCI-H460, A549, NCI-H1299 and NCI-H1975). Functional experiments (MTT assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay and Transwell assay) were performed to measure the effects of NUCKS on lung cancer cell viability, migration, invasion and apoptosis.

Results: NUCKS was found to be up-regulated in lung cancer cells. Knockdown of NUCKS significantly altered lung cancer cell apoptosis, proliferation colony formation, invasion and migration. Moreover, knockdown of NUCKS attenuated the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in lung cancer cells.

Conclusion: NUCKS was overexpressed in lung cancer cells and played an important role in lung cancer by increasing cell growth through the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway. This in vitro study suggested NUCKS should be evaluated in a clinical setting as a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target for lung cancer.