Abstract

Background Bladder cancer (BCa) is a common malignancy characterized by high heterogeneity, yet the current treatment modalities are limited. The aim of the present investigation was to unravel the functional role of Karyopherin alpha 2 (KPNA2), a tumor facilitator identified in multiple malignancies, in the progression of BCa.Methods BCa tissues and adjacent normal tissues were surgically resected and analyzed from patients with BCa to determine the expression profile of KPNA2 and Chromobox 8 (CBX8) by RT-qPCR, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The relationship among KPNA2, CBX8 and PR domain zinc finger protein 1 (PRDM1) was explored by co-immunoprecipitation and chromatin-immunoprecipitation. The functions of KPNA2, CBX8 and PRDM1 on BCa cell proliferation, migration and invasion were evaluated. Next, a nude mouse model of BCa was established for validating the roles of KPNA2, CBX8 and PRDM1 in vivo.Results KPNA2 and CBX8 were highly expressed in BCa and are in association with dismal oncologic outcomes of patients with BCa. KPNA2 promoted nuclear import of CBX8. CBX8 downregulated PRDM1 by recruiting BCOR in the promoter region of PRDM1. Overexpression of KPNA2 promoted the malignant behaviors of BCa cells, which was counteracted by silencing of CBX8. Overexpressing PRDM1 attenuated the progression of BCa by inhibiting c-FOS expression. The tumor-promoting effects of KPNA2 via the PRDM1/c-FOS pathway were also validated in vivo.Conclusion Collectively, our findings attached great importance to the interplay between KPNA2 and CBX8 in BCa in mediating the development and progression of BCa, thus offering a promising candidate target for better BCa patient management.