Abstract
The long-term prognosis of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unsatisfactory, which is a major challenge in lung cancer treatment. BIRC3 is an inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein that contributes to tumor regulation. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of BIRC3 in NSCLC remains unknown. We initiated an analysis of BIRC3 expression data in NSCLC tumors and adjacent tissues using the TCGA and GEO databases and examined the variations in prognosis. Further, we conducted overexpression (OE) and knockdown (KD) studies on BIRC3 to evaluate its effects on NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Additionally, through utilization of a nude mouse model, the regulatory effects of BIRC3 on NSCLC were verified in vivo. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay served to pinpoint the proteins with which BIRC3 interacts. The results indicated that BIRC3 is down-regulated in NSCLC tissues and that patients with high BIRC3 expression demonstrate a better prognosis. BIRC3 is a tumor suppressor, inhibiting the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC. Co-IP results revealed that BIRC3 interacts with HSP90B1, leading to a decrease in HSP90B1 expression and subsequent negative regulation of the ERK signaling pathway. BIRC3 may serve as a prognostic biomarker for NSCLC. It directly interacts with HSP90B1 to negatively regulate the ERK signaling pathway, thereby hindering the progression of NSCLC.