The role of FOXK2–FBXO32 in breast cancer tumorigenesis: Insights into ribosome‐associated pathways

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo search for a new biomarker that can predict the efficacy and prognosis of tumor immunotherapy.MethodFOXK2 genes were analyzed using single‐cell sequencing in pan‐cancer bulk RNA‐seq from the TCGA database. We used algorithms to predict their immune infiltration. Functional enrichment and ChIP‐seq identified potential downstream gene, FBXO32. FBXO32's role in cancer immune response was explored through analysis.ResultsSignificant up‐regulation of FOXK2 was observed in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD), uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC), bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA), colorectal cancer (CRC), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD), while no such increase was found in lung cancer (lung adenocarcinoma [LUAD], lung squamous cell carcinoma [LUSC]) or thyroid carcinoma (THCA) tumor and adjacent tissues. FOXK2 expression correlated with patient prognosis, with lower expression associated with better immune response and survival and higher expression of its downstream gene FBXO32 linked to worse overall survival (OS) and immune infiltration. FOXK2 has the potential to be used as a prognostic indicator and target for treatment in individuals with cancer.ConclusionOur research provides insights into the significance of FOXK2 in cancer and indicates its potential as both a prognostic indicator and target for treatment. The ribosome‐associated pathways involving FOXK2 and FBXO32 could be pivotal in the advancement of tumors, offering possible avenues for targeted and individualized immunotherapy approaches. Additional research is required to completely understand the mechanisms that are responsible for the participation of FOXK2 and its subsequent gene FBXO32 in cancer, as well as to explore the possible advantages of focusing on FOXK2 for cancer treatment.