Jumonji domain-containing protein 1A promotes cell growth and progression via transactivation of c-Myc expression and predicts a poor prognosis in cervical cancer

// Jue Liu 1, * , Ming Zhu 3, * , Xue Xia 2, * , Yuliang Huang 1 , Qunfeng Zhang 1 , Xiaoxu Wang 2 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan Province, 421001, P.R. China 2 Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan Province, 421001, P.R. China 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201620, P.R. China * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Xiaoxu Wang, email: wxx1024@163.com Keywords: cervical cancer, JMJD1A, c-Myc, prognosis, immunohistochemistry Received: June 03, 2016      Accepted: October 26, 2016      Published: November 08, 2016 ABSTRACT Jumonji domain-containing protein 1A (JMJD1A) plays a key role in the development and progression of several cancers. Here, we showed that the expression of JMJD1A is increased in cervical cancer cells and tissues, and that suppression of JMJD1A inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer cells. JMJD1A induced transcription of c-Myc, which is essential for cervical cancer growth and progression. Clinical data showed that JMJD1A expression correlated with lymph node metastasis ( P =0.031) and FIGO stage ( P =0.007). Increased c-Myc levels were associated with tumor differentiation ( P =0.007) and FIGO stage ( P <0.001). JMJD1A protein levels correlated with c-Myc expression ( P <0.001), and high co-expression of the two proteins correlated with a poor prognosis. Survival analysis showed that JMJD1A and c-Myc levels are independent prognostic factors for cervical cancer patients. These results suggest that JMJD1A is a promising therapeutic target in cervical cancer.