FAT4 functions as a tumor suppressor in triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is often associated with biologic behavior with frequent distant metastasis. FAT tumor suppressor homolog 4 (FAT4), a cadherin-related protein, is involved in a variety of biological processes as a tumor suppressor; however, the role of FAT4 in TNBC is still unclear. The aim of our study was to identify the role of FAT4 in TNBC and examine the underlying molecular mechanisms. The expression of FAT4 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and qRT-PCR in a series of TNBC tissues. The effects of FAT4 on the ability of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed by MTT assay and migration and invasion assays. We demonstrated that the repression of FAT4 by shRNA could promote TNBC progression. Taken together, our findings provide evidence for a role of the FAT4 cluster as a tumor suppressor in TNBC patients and may serve as potential novel targets for the treatment of TNBC.