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ResearchIn-Press PreviewCell biologyOncology Open Access | 10.1172/JCI183531

Kinesin-like protein KIFC2 stabilizes CDK4 to accelerate growth and confer resistance in HR+/HER2- breast cancer

Shao-Ying Yang,1 Ming-Liang Jin,2 Lisa Andriani,2 Qian Zhao,1 Yun-Xiao Ling,1 Cai-Jin Lin,2 Min-Ying Huang,3 Jia-Yang Cai,2 Yin-Ling Zhang,1 Xin Hu,4 Zhi-Ming Shao,1 Fang-Lin Zhang,1 Xi Jin,2 A Yong Cao,2 and Da-Qiang Li1

1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

Find articles by Yang, S. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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1Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

2Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

3Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

4Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

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Published April 29, 2025 - More info

J Clin Invest. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI183531.
Copyright © 2025, Yang et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Published April 29, 2025 - Version history
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Abstract

Hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer (HR+/HER2− BC) is the most common subtype, with high risk of long-term recurrence and metastasis. Endocrine therapy (ET) combined with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors is a standard treatment for advanced/metastatic HR+/HER2- BC, but resistance remains a major clinical challenge. We report that kinesin family member C2 (KIFC2) was amplified in approximately 50% HR+/HER2- BC, and its high expression was associated with poor disease outcome, increased tumor protein p53 (TP53) somatic mutation, and active pyrimidine metabolism. Function assays revealed that depletion of KIFC2 suppressed growth and enhanced sensitivity of HR+/HER2- BC cells to tamoxifen and CDK4/6 inhibitors. Mechanistically, KIFC2 stabilized CDK4 by enhancing its interaction with ubiquitin specific peptidase 9 X-linked (USP9X). Importantly, re-expression of CDK4 in KIFC2-depleted cells partially rescued the decreased growth and increased sensitivity to tamoxifen and CDK4/6 inhibitors caused by KIFC2 depletion. Clinically, high KIFC2 mRNA expression was negatively associated with survival rate of HR+/HER2- BC patients received adjuvant ET alone or in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors. Collectively, these findings identify an important role for KIFC2 in HR+/HER2- BC growth and therapeutic resistance, and support its potential as a therapeutic target and predictive biomarker.

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