FAM13A is associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression and controls tumor cell proliferation and survival

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) associated Family with sequence similarity 13, member A (FAM13A) with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) occurrence. Here, we found increased numbers of FAM13A protein expressing cells in the tumoral region of lung tissues from a cohort of patients with NSCLC. Moreover, FAM13A inversely correlated with CTLA4 but directly correlated with HIF1α levels in the control region of these patients. Consistently, FAM13A RhoGAP was found to be associated with T cell effector molecules like HIF1α and Tbet and was downregulated in immunosuppressive CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺CTLA4⁺ T cells. TGFβ, a tumor suppressor factor, as well as siRNA to FAM13A, suppressed both isoforms of FAM13A and inhibited tumor cell proliferation. RNA-Seq analysis confirmed this finding. Moreover, siRNA to FAM13A induced TGFβ levels. Finally, in experimental tumor cell migration, FAM13A was induced and TGFβ accelerated this process by inducing cell migration, HIF1α, and the FAM13A RhoGAP isoform. Furthermore, siRNA to FAM13A inhibited tumor cell proliferation and induced cell migration without affecting HIF1α. In conclusion, FAM13A is involved in tumor cell proliferation and downstream of TGFβ and HIF1α, FAM13A RhoGAP is associated with Th1 gene expression and lung tumor cell migration. These findings identify FAM13A as key regulator of NSCLC growth and progression.