Computational assessment of SKA1 as a potential cancer biomarker

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundSpindle and kinetochore associated complex subunit 1 (SKA1) is an essential component of SKA complex, which is required for the proper formation of kinetochore–microtubule attachment and timely mitotic progression. The aim of this study is to perform detailed analyses of SKA1 genomic and expression alterations in cancers and to assess SKA1 as a biomarker for predicting human cancers and patient prognosis.Materials and methodsMissense mutations from human cancers were extracted, deleterious missense mutations were predicted and shown on 3D SKA1 protein. SKA1 expression and the effect of SKA1 expression on patient survival were investigated in human cancers.Results and discussionMost of the predicted deleterious mutations were detected on microtubule-binding domain of SKA1, suggesting mutations on microtubule-binding domain might be more relevant in human cancers. High SKA1 expression was detected in various cancers. In addition, patients with high SKA1 expression showed poor overall survival compared to patients with low SKA1 expression in breast, lung and gastric cancers.ConclusionThese results suggest that high SKA1 expression might be a prognostic and predictive biomarker for several cancers and mainly mutations in the microtubule-binding domain of SKA1 might have a deleterious effect for SKA1.