BRD4, a coregulator of gene transcription, controls migration and invasion through transcription of AHNAK, a large scaffolding protein linked to promotion of metastasis in a diverse set of cancers.
The role of AHNAK in cancer is however unclear as the protein has previously been described as a tumor suppressor, as well as being essential for tumor metastasis and invasion, while also being implicated in selected chemotherapeutic responses.
Taken together, our results suggest that AHNAK acts as a tumor suppressor that negatively regulates TNBC cell proliferation, TNBC xenograft growth and metastasis via different signaling pathways.