Zinc finger protein 460 (ZNF460) is closely related to the progression of a variety of human cancers. However, the biological role of ZNF460 in gastric cancer remains fully unrevealed. This study aimed to investigate the role and potential mechanism of ZNF460 in gastric cancer. In this study, we discovered a significant up-regulation of ZNF460 in gastric cancer and that ZNF460 expression correlated with tumor grade, lymph node metastasis, and H. pylon infection in gastric cancer through UALCAN database. Functionally, Diminished ZNF460 expression inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, ZNF460 combined with apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) promoter to facilitate APOC1 transcription, and accelerated EMT, thereby promoting the progression of gastric cancer. In conclusion, our study confirmed that ZNF460 promotes gastric cancer progression, which might serve as a novel target for gastric cancer treatment.

Gastric cancer, also known as stomach adenocarcinoma, is the fourth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Most patients with gastric cancer are diagnosed with metastatic stage, making overall survival still low. Despite many advances in diagnostic methods and surgical methods in recent years, the overall survival of gastric cancer patients remains largely unsatisfactory. The complexity of gastric cancer treatment lies in its heterogeneity within the tumor tissue, which is not only caused by genetics but also by epigenetic changes. Therefore, it is urgent to understand the molecular mechanisms of gastric cancer initiation and development, to provide a scientific basis for the development of effective treatment strategies.

With Regards,
Sara Giselle
Associate Managing Editor
Global Journal of Digestive Diseases