LPCAT1 is transcriptionally regulated by FOXA1 to promote breast cancer progression and paclitaxel resistance

Bioinformatics analysis indicates that lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1) and forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) are highly expressed in breast cancer tissues and their expression levels are correlated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate their involvement in the malignant progression and drug resistance of breast cancer. The clinical significance of LPCAT1 was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas data. The enrichment of LPCAT1 in breast cancer cells was determined and the effects of LPCAT1 knockdown on cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion and paclitaxel (PTX) resistance were evaluated. The association between LPCAT1 and FOXA1 was verified using luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Thereafter, the ability of FOXA1 overexpression to regulate LPCAT1 regulation was evaluated. The results revealed that a high LPCAT1 level was associated with poor overall survival in patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, LPCAT1 was found to be highly expressed in breast cancer cells, and its knockdown resulted in suppressed proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, and weakened PTX resistance. Furthermore, FOXA1 overexpression attenuated the effects of LPCAT1 knockdown on cells, indicating that FOXA1 transcriptionally regulates LPCAT1. In summary, the present study reveals that LPCAT1 is transcriptionally regulated by FOXA1, which influences breast cancer cell proliferation, metastatic potential and PTX resistance.