Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41402809›Full record

ArticleCancer cell international2025

Phosphorylated NCOA6 promotes aggressiveness and contributes patient outcomes in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

Hongmei Dong, Ruijun Zhao, Weiheng Cui, Xijiao Pang, Hongzheng Ren, Yunlong Pan, Yexi Chen, Shegan Gao, Hao Zhang

Abstract read
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Article in Cancer cell international, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Hongmei Dong *Institute of Precision Cancer Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Ruijun Zhao *Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Weiheng Cui *Institute of Precision Cancer Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Xijiao PangInstitute of Precision Cancer Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Hongzheng RenDepartment of Pathology, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China.
Yunlong PanDepartment of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Yexi ChenDepartment of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
Shegan GaoCollege of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Henan Key Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Luoyang, China. gsg112258@haust.edu.cn.
Hao ZhangDepartment of Pathology, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China. haolabcancercenter@163.com.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82273183 and 82072683National Natural Science Foundation of China 82472810Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province of China 2021A1515011028 and 2022A1515011739Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province of China 2022A1515010925
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBreast cancer heterogeneity is not only involved by genetic and epigenetic alterations, but may also associated with the complexities at levels of protein modifications. Estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer constitutes approximately 70% of all breast cancer cases, significantly impacting global female morbidity and mortality. Nuclear receptor co-activator 6 (NCOA6, also referred as AIB3) is a coregulator of sex hormone receptors as well as other transcription factors. Although the expression and functions of NCOA6 have been studied in breast, colon, lung, pancreatic cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma, post-tranlational modification of NCOA6 is barely known. This study aims to study the NCOA6 phosphorylation, in particular at Serine 884, and its relevance to breast tumor aggressiveness and the prognostic significance.

methodsWe used bioinformatics and immunohistochemistry to detect NCOA6 expression and Ser884 phosphorylation in ER-positive breast cancer tissues. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were measured using CCK-8, transwell, and wound healing assays. Immunoblotting was used to detect protein levels and phosphorylation. Mouse xenograft models were established to evaluate tumor growth in vivo. Transcriptome and proteome analyses were performed to identify related signaling pathways.

resultsTotal NCOA6 expression was not linked to cancer stage, subtype, or prognosis. However, phosphorylation at Ser884 was significantly increased in ER-positive breast cancer and associated with poorer outcomes, indicating its potential as an independent prognostic marker. Functional studies demonstrated that Ser884 phosphorylation promoted tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and enhanced tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, ERK2 activation induced NCOA6 phosphorylation at Ser884, promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastatic behavior. Only the phosphomimetic S884E mutant, not the non-phosphorylatable S884F mutant, restored migration and invasion in NCOA6-deficient cells. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses further suggested that NCOA6 influences cell cycle, PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, and protein synthesis.

conclusionPhosphorylation of NCOA6 at Ser884 is markedly increased in ER-positive breast cancer, associates with aggressive clinicopathologic features, and portends poor prognosis. Functionally, enhanced NCOA6 phosphorylation promotes invasion and metastasis of ER-positive breast cancer cells. Collectively, these findings identify phospho-NCOA6 (Ser884) as a promising prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target, supporting more personalized management of ER-positive disease.

Indexed as

ER-positive breast cancerNCOA6 phosphorylationPrognosis and aggressivenessTumor heterogeneity and personalized therapeutics

Identifiers

PMID41402809
PMCPMC12821289

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.