2. Academic Validation
  3. Integrated Analysis Reveals ZNF184 as a Novel Regulator of Stemness-Associated Paclitaxel Resistance and Tumor Progression in Breast Cancer

Integrated Analysis Reveals ZNF184 as a Novel Regulator of Stemness-Associated Paclitaxel Resistance and Tumor Progression in Breast Cancer

  • Mol Carcinog. 2026 Apr;65(4):493-507. doi: 10.1002/mc.70088.
Rong Gong 1 2,  Yizhi Li 1 2,  Xiaoya Wan 1 2,  Shilong Jiang 3,  Deyang Wang 1 2,  Qi Fu 1 2,  Anze Yang 4,  Yidi Guan 5,  Ruigang Zhao 6,  Yan Cheng 1 2 7 8 9
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
  • 2 Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug, Changsha, China.
  • 3 Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
  • 4 Zhuzhou Nanfang High School, Zhuzhou, China.
  • 5 Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
  • 6 Information and Network Center, Central South University, Changsha, China.
  • 7 FuRong Laboratory, Changsha, China.
  • 8 NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics & State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
  • 9 Clinical Research Center for Breast Disease in Hunan Province, Changsha, China.
PMID: 41642732 DOI: 10.1002/mc.70088
Abstract

Chemotherapy resistance is the primary cause of clinical treatment failure and unfavorable prognosis among breast Cancer patients. Consequently, the exploration of novel molecular targets for chemotherapy resistance is warranted. Here, we demonstrated that Zinc Finger Protein 184 (ZNF184) facilitates chemoresistance in breast Cancer. Through integrated bioinformatics and experimental validation, we identified that ZNF184 was highly expressed in paclitaxel-resistant breast Cancer cells. Knockdown of ZNF184 inhibited cell proliferation and re-sensitized resistant cells to paclitaxel in vitro and in patients-derived organoids (PDOs). Mechanistically, ZNF184 regulates the expression of stemness-related genes CD44, OCT4, Nanog, SOX2, and ALDH1A1, thereby promoting the proliferation of breast Cancer cells and subsequent paclitaxel resistance. Pan-cancer analysis revealed the potential of ZNF184 as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for adverse clinical outcomes. Collectively, these findings reveal a previously unknown role of ZNF184 in breast Cancer progression and paclitaxel resistance, providing new insights into ZNF184 as a potential therapeutic target for Cancer patients.

Keywords

ZNF184; breast cancer; paclitaxel resistance; stemness.

Figures
Products