IRTKS Contributes to the Malignant Progression of Cervical Cancer Cells

Abstract Background Cervical cancer (CC), one of the most aggressive tumors in women, has high risk rates of recurrence and metastasis. It is essential to study the key genes and proteins involved in CC development. IRTKS, a member of the IRSp53 family, has been reported as a tumor promoter in gastric and breast cancers. However, the biological significance of IRTKS in CC is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the biological function of IRTKS in CC cells in vitro, and the effect of IRTKS on tumorigenesis in vivo. Materials and Methods Siha and Hela cells were treated with si-RNA and plasmids. Cell proliferation and motility were analyzed using proliferation and transwell assays, respectively. The expression of EMT-related proteins was determined by western blot. Results IRTKS was highly expressed in CC. IRTKS contributes to the proliferation of CC cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, IRTKS facilitated the migration and invasion of CC cells and modulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Conclusion IRTKS plays a crucial role in CC tumorigenesis, suggesting it can be a potential key gene in new therapeutic strategies for CC.