Cancer/testis-45A1 promotes cervical cancer cell tumorigenesis and drug resistance by activating oncogenic SRC and downstream signaling pathways

Background Cancer/testis antigen-45A1 (CT45A1) is overexpressed in various types of cancer but is not expressed in healthy women. The role of CT45A1 in cervical cancer has not yet been described in the literature. Purpose The aim of this research was to study the role of CT45A1 in cervical cancer progression and drug resistance, elucidate the mechanisms underlying CT45A1-mediated tumorigenesis and investigate CT45A1 as a biomarker for cervical cancer diagnosis, prognostic prediction, and targeted therapy. Methods The CT45A1 levels in the tumors from cervical cancer patients were measured using immunohistochemical staining. The role and mechanisms underlying CT45A1-mediated cervical cancer cell tumor growth, invasion, and drug resistance were studied using xenograft mice, cervical cancer cells, immunohistochemistry, RNA-seq, real-time qPCR, Chromatin immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. Results CT45A1 levels were notably high in the tumor tissues of human cervical cancer patients compared to the paracancerous tissues ( p < 0.001). Overexpression of CT45A1 was closely associated with poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients. CT45A1 promoted cervical cancer cell tumor growth, invasion, neovascularization, and drug resistance. Mechanistically, CT45A1 promoted the expression of 128 pro-tumorigenic genes and concurrently activated key signaling pathways, including the oncogenic SRC, ERK, CREB, and YAP/TAZ signaling pathways. Furthermore, CT45A1-mediated tumorigenesis and drug resistance were markedly inhibited by the small molecule lycorine. Conclusion CT45A1 promotes cervical cancer cell tumorigenesis, neovascularization, and drug resistance by activating oncogenic SRC and downstream tumorigenic signaling pathways. These findings provide new insight into the pathogenesis of cervical cancer and offer a new platform for the development of novel therapeutics against cervical cancer.