SKA1 overexpression is associated with the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and regulates cell proliferation and migration

Spindle and kinetochore-associated protein 1 (SKA1), a microtubule-binding subcomplex of the outer kinetochore, is essential for complete chromosomal separation. SKA1 has been suggested as a potential biomarker for various types of cancer. However, the exact role of SKA1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. The present study investigated whether SKA1 affects the biological behavior of ESCC. The expression of SKA1 in ESCC tissues was measured using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, a SKA1-silencing lentivirus was constructed, which was transfected into TE-1 cells to establish stable SKA1-knockdown TE-1 cells. Proliferation was analyzed using a Celigo image cytometer and a MTS assay. Cell cycle progression and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry, while cell migration was assessed using a Transwell assay. SKA1 was significantly overexpressed in ESCC tissues, and SKA1 overexpression was significantly associated with differentiation, pathological N stage and pathological tumor-node-metastasis stage. SKA1 was determined to be an independent prognostic factor for ESCC. Furthermore, SKA1 was significantly overexpressed in ESCC cells, and SKA1-silencing inhibited cell proliferation and migration, arrested the cell cycle and promoted cell apoptosis. In summary, SKA1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for ESCC.