CDCA4 interacts with IGF2BP1 to regulate lung adenocarcinoma proliferation via the PI3K/AKT pathway

Abstract Background Lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD) remain the leading cause of death in many countries. In this study, we investigated the role of division cycle‐associated 4 (CDCA4) in the carcinogenesis of LUADs. Methods Real‐time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were performed to detect the messenger RNA and protein levels of CDCA4 in cells. Cell counting kit 8, real‐time cell analysis, clone formation, EdU assays, and cell‐cycle assays were used to preliminarily investigate the proliferation and cell‐cycle–related functions of CDCA4 in lung adenocarcinoma. Immunoprecipitation assays were used to identify possible targets of CDCA4. A xenograft model was used to examine how CDCA4 knockdown affects LUAD cells growth in vivo. Results We found that the expression of CDCA4 was upregulated in LUAD cell lines. When CDCA4 was knocked out, the ability of LUAD cells to proliferate was dramatically reduced, and the cell cycle was stalled in the S phase. Meanwhile, boosting the CDCA4 expression had the opposite effect. The critical protein levels of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway were subsequently examined. The findings demonstrated that elevated CDCA4 lowered the phosphate and tensin homolog expression and increased the p‐PI3K and p‐AKT levels. Moreover, we demonstrated that CDCA4 favorably regulated IGF2BP1, a downstream target. The downregulation of the IGF2BP1 expression could reverse the proliferation promotion effect induced by the CDCA4 overexpression. Conclusions CDCA4 can operate as an oncogenic factor to control the growth of lung adenocarcinoma via the PI3K/AKT pathway.