DNAJC24 suppresses breast cancer malignancy and serves as a prognostic biomarker

Abstract Background Based on the current markers, numerous targeted therapies have been put forward for clinical application; however, treatment resistance and recurrence still remain the main causes of breast cancer-related mortality. In addition, breast cancer exhibits significant heterogeneity, a...

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Main Authors: Wenjing Meng, Wei Liu, Yulong Yang, Xiaorui Wang, Linlin Zhan, Yi Luo, Liwei Chen, Yu Wang, Guangtao Li, Yehui Shi, Yuchao He, Zhongsheng Tong, Hua Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Cancer Cell International
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03918-4
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author Wenjing Meng
Wei Liu
Yulong Yang
Xiaorui Wang
Linlin Zhan
Yi Luo
Liwei Chen
Yu Wang
Guangtao Li
Yehui Shi
Yuchao He
Zhongsheng Tong
Hua Guo
author_facet Wenjing Meng
Wei Liu
Yulong Yang
Xiaorui Wang
Linlin Zhan
Yi Luo
Liwei Chen
Yu Wang
Guangtao Li
Yehui Shi
Yuchao He
Zhongsheng Tong
Hua Guo
author_sort Wenjing Meng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Based on the current markers, numerous targeted therapies have been put forward for clinical application; however, treatment resistance and recurrence still remain the main causes of breast cancer-related mortality. In addition, breast cancer exhibits significant heterogeneity, and patients with apparently similar tumor subtypes exhibit variable responses to identical drug treatments. Therefore, accurate prediction of breast cancer progression and personalized treatment plans will maximize patient benefit by avoiding overtreatment and undertreatment. Methods In this study, our emphasis was placed on exploring the function of DnaJ heat shock protein family member C24 (DNAJC24, also known as DPH4) in breast cancer through bioinformatic analysis by using public databases and clinicopathological samples. We performed in vitro functional assays to explore the biological roles of DNAJC24. Results Bioinformatics analysis of TCGA data demonstrated significantly lower DNAJC24 expression in breast cancer tissues compared to adjacent paracancer tissues (p < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry showed low DNAJC24 expression in 72.4% (210/290) of breast cancer tissues versus 50.8% (134/264) of adjacent paracancer tissues. DNAJC24 expression decreased progressively with advanced clinical stages (p < 0.05), was lowest in HER2-enriched subtype, and highest in Luminal-A subtype. Overexpression of DNAJC24 in breast cancer cells significantly reduced colony formation (p < 0.05), proliferation rates, chemotaxis (p < 0.05), invasion (p < 0.05), and migration abilities (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Conversely, DNAJC24 knockdown in cancer cells produced opposite effects, significantly enhancing chemotaxis, invasion, and migration (all p < 0.05). Conclusions Lower DNAJC24 expression is strongly associated with breast cancer malignancy, advanced clinical stages, aggressive molecular subtypes, and poorer prognosis. Functionally, DNAJC24 inhibits proliferation, invasion, and migration of breast cancer cells, underscoring its potential as a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-57440ee8ed1543eaa85c6849047a2b292025-08-20T03:43:36ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672025-07-0125111310.1186/s12935-025-03918-4DNAJC24 suppresses breast cancer malignancy and serves as a prognostic biomarkerWenjing Meng0Wei Liu1Yulong Yang2Xiaorui Wang3Linlin Zhan4Yi Luo5Liwei Chen6Yu Wang7Guangtao Li8Yehui Shi9Yuchao He10Zhongsheng Tong11Hua Guo12Department of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalDepartment of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalDepartment of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalDepartment of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalDepartment of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalDepartment of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalDepartment of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalDepartment of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalDepartment of Hepatobiliary Cancer, Liver Cancer Research Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalDepartment of Breast Oncology, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical UniversityDepartment of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalDepartment of Breast Oncology, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical UniversityDepartment of Tumor Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalAbstract Background Based on the current markers, numerous targeted therapies have been put forward for clinical application; however, treatment resistance and recurrence still remain the main causes of breast cancer-related mortality. In addition, breast cancer exhibits significant heterogeneity, and patients with apparently similar tumor subtypes exhibit variable responses to identical drug treatments. Therefore, accurate prediction of breast cancer progression and personalized treatment plans will maximize patient benefit by avoiding overtreatment and undertreatment. Methods In this study, our emphasis was placed on exploring the function of DnaJ heat shock protein family member C24 (DNAJC24, also known as DPH4) in breast cancer through bioinformatic analysis by using public databases and clinicopathological samples. We performed in vitro functional assays to explore the biological roles of DNAJC24. Results Bioinformatics analysis of TCGA data demonstrated significantly lower DNAJC24 expression in breast cancer tissues compared to adjacent paracancer tissues (p < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry showed low DNAJC24 expression in 72.4% (210/290) of breast cancer tissues versus 50.8% (134/264) of adjacent paracancer tissues. DNAJC24 expression decreased progressively with advanced clinical stages (p < 0.05), was lowest in HER2-enriched subtype, and highest in Luminal-A subtype. Overexpression of DNAJC24 in breast cancer cells significantly reduced colony formation (p < 0.05), proliferation rates, chemotaxis (p < 0.05), invasion (p < 0.05), and migration abilities (p < 0.05) compared to controls. Conversely, DNAJC24 knockdown in cancer cells produced opposite effects, significantly enhancing chemotaxis, invasion, and migration (all p < 0.05). Conclusions Lower DNAJC24 expression is strongly associated with breast cancer malignancy, advanced clinical stages, aggressive molecular subtypes, and poorer prognosis. Functionally, DNAJC24 inhibits proliferation, invasion, and migration of breast cancer cells, underscoring its potential as a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03918-4Breast cancerDNAJC24Molecular subtypePrognosis biomarker
spellingShingle Wenjing Meng
Wei Liu
Yulong Yang
Xiaorui Wang
Linlin Zhan
Yi Luo
Liwei Chen
Yu Wang
Guangtao Li
Yehui Shi
Yuchao He
Zhongsheng Tong
Hua Guo
DNAJC24 suppresses breast cancer malignancy and serves as a prognostic biomarker
Cancer Cell International
Breast cancer
DNAJC24
Molecular subtype
Prognosis biomarker
title DNAJC24 suppresses breast cancer malignancy and serves as a prognostic biomarker
title_full DNAJC24 suppresses breast cancer malignancy and serves as a prognostic biomarker
title_fullStr DNAJC24 suppresses breast cancer malignancy and serves as a prognostic biomarker
title_full_unstemmed DNAJC24 suppresses breast cancer malignancy and serves as a prognostic biomarker
title_short DNAJC24 suppresses breast cancer malignancy and serves as a prognostic biomarker
title_sort dnajc24 suppresses breast cancer malignancy and serves as a prognostic biomarker
topic Breast cancer
DNAJC24
Molecular subtype
Prognosis biomarker
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03918-4
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