KLF7 is associated with poor prognosis and regulates migration and adhesion in tongue cancer

Objective: The present study was performed to determine the clinical relevance of KLF7 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and to characterize its potential function and mechanism of action.

Materials and methods: KLF7 expression was measured by RT-qPCR in 21 tongue cancer samples. The clinical relevance of KLF7 was analyzed in another cohort of 127 TSCC samples from a public database. Then, we performed RNA sequencing analysis in KLF7-overexpressing TSCC (SCC9 and CAL27) cells to define significantly altered pathways. The possible changes in migration and adhesion were then analyzed in KLF7-overexpressing and knockdown TSCC cells.

Results: Our results showed that KLF7 mRNA expression was upregulated in TSCC and was significantly associated with the T and N stages. Patients with high-KLF7 expression had worse overall survival. RNA sequencing and KEGG enriched pathway analysis showed that altered genes were enriched in extracellular matrix-receptor interactions and focal adhesions in both cell lines. KLF7-overexpressing TSCC cell lines showed enhanced migration capacity and cell adhesion ability, and knockdown of KLF7 expression decreased TSCC migration and adhesion ability.

Conclusions: We concluded that KLF7 was overexpressed in TSCC and has prognostic value. KLF7 promoted TSCC migration and increased cell adhesion.