RFC4 Drives Pancreatic Cancer Progression: Prognostic Relevance and Functional Evidence.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Replication Factor C (RFC) is a multisubunit complex involved in DNA replication and repair. Although RFC subunits have been associated with various cancers, their role in pancreatic cancer remains largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the expression and clinical relevance of RFC4 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma using a publicly available database (GEPIA2). Subsequent functional assays were performed to validate its role in pancreatic cancer cells.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Expression levels and prognostic relevance of RFC4 were analyzed using GEPIA2. Functional assays, including MTT and colony formation assays, cell cycle analysis, and Transwell migration and invasion assays, were conducted in RFC4 siRNA-transfected MIA Paca-2 and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells.

RESULTS

Bioinformatics analysis revealed that RFC4 was significantly overexpressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and correlated with poor overall survival. Function validation demonstrated that RFC4 knockdown significantly reduced cell proliferation, colony-forming ability, migratory and invasive potential. Flow cytometry showed cell cycle arrest characterized by decreased G1 and increased S phase populations.

CONCLUSION

RFC4 is closely associated with pancreatic cancer progression and may serve as potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.