Li YF, Weng CY, Wang M. Kinetochore-associated protein 1 as a prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer: Integrative bioinformatics and experimental validation. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(27): 118071 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.118071]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Mi Wang, Researcher, Department of Emergency, Wenzhou TCM Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 9 Jiaowei Road, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China. 605948068@qq.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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research-article
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Li YF, Weng CY, Wang M. Kinetochore-associated protein 1 as a prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer: Integrative bioinformatics and experimental validation. World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(27): 118071 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.118071]
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2026; 32(27): 118071 Published online Jul 21, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.118071
Kinetochore-associated protein 1 as a prognostic biomarker in gastric cancer: Integrative bioinformatics and experimental validation
You-Feng Li, Chun-Yan Weng, Mi Wang
You-Feng Li, Department of Rehabilitation, Wenzhou TCM Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
Chun-Yan Weng, Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang Province, China
Mi Wang, Department of Emergency, Wenzhou TCM Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Weng CY and Li YF contributed to software, formal analysis, and data curation; Li YF contributed to visualization. All authors contributed to review and editing, writing original draft, methodology, conceptualization, and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by Wenzhou Applied Basic Research Program, No. YC20250154.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by Ethics Committee of Wenzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, No. WZY2026-KT-011-01.
Institutional animal care and use committee statement: This study was approved by Animal Ethics and Welfare Committee of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. IACUC-202304-0266.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Data sharing statement: Data will be made available on request.
Corresponding author: Mi Wang, Researcher, Department of Emergency, Wenzhou TCM Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 9 Jiaowei Road, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China. 605948068@qq.com
Received: December 23, 2025 Revised: February 6, 2026 Accepted: March 26, 2026 Published online: July 21, 2026 Processing time: 194 Days and 21.3 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Identification of potential gastric cancer (GC) biomarkers is crucial for enhancing prognosis and developing therapy. During cell division, kinetochore-associated protein (KNTC) 1 ensures that chromosomes are separated properly during mitosis. However, the function of KNTC1 in GC has not yet been clearly defined.
AIM
To evaluate the prognostic significance of KNTC1 and delineate its influence on GC development.
METHODS
KNTC1 expression in GC was evaluated through experimental methods and bioinformatics analysis. Clinical data were used to stratify patients, and Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses assessed the prognostic significance of KNTC1. The relationship between KNTC1 expression and immune infiltration was explored using The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets.
RESULTS
KNTC1 exhibited elevated expression levels in GC cell lines. Elevated KNTC1 abundance showed a robust relationship with age, pathologic M, pathologic N, and poor prognosis. KNTC1 significantly influenced immune cell infiltration. Finally, phenotypic assays and xenograft models of GC demonstrated that KNTC1 promoted tumor progression.
CONCLUSION
Elevated KNTC1 correlates with poor outcomes of GC patients, suggesting that KNTC1 could serve as a potential biomarker in GC.
Core Tip: This study identifies kinetochore-associated protein (KNTC) 1, a key regulator of mitotic chromosome segregation, as a novel oncogenic factor in gastric cancer (GC). We demonstrated that KNTC1 was overexpressed in GC and closely associated with advanced clinicopathological features and poor prognosis. Importantly, KNTC1 expression correlated with immune cell infiltration and promoted tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. These findings highlight KNTC1 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for GC.
