Forkhead box F2/ Lysyl oxidase like 1 contribute to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis in thyroid cancer.

Background: Bioinformatics analysis suggests an association between lysyl oxidase like 1 (LOXL1) and forkhead box F2 (FOXF2), both of which are found to be dysregulated in thyroid cancer. This study aims to elucidate their specific roles in thyroid cancer.
Methods: The correlation of LOXL1 expression with thyroid cancer staging and the overall survival was analyzed. LOXL1 levels were determined in several thyroid cancer cells, and its effects on poorly differentiated BCPAP cell proliferation, colony formation, malignant phenotypes, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression, and angiogenesis were evaluated. The relationship between LOXL1 and FOXF2 was confirmed using Luciferase reporter and ChIP assays. The impacts of FOXF2 on LOXL1 regulation along with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling were assessed, followed by the verification of transplanted tumor in nude mice.
Results: Elevated LOXL1 expression was associated with advanced clinical staging and poorer overall survival. Reduced LOXL1 suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, EMT, and angiogenesis. FOXF2 was found to be down-regulated in thyroid cancer, acting as a transcription factor that recognizes the LOXL1 promoter and modulates its transcriptional expression. Moreover, the regulatory outcome of LOXL1 knockdown was partially reversed upon FOXF2 knockdown, including the modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling and tumor growth in vivo.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that LOXL1 is transcriptionally regulated by FOXF2 and activates the Wnt/β-catenin to promote malignant phenotypes, EMT progression, and angiogenesis in BCPAP cells.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
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