NCEH1 promotes breast cancer progression by regulating NRP1 and activating the TNF-α/NF-κB signalling pathway

PURPOSE: Neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase 1 (NCEH1), a key enzyme in cellular lipid metabolism, is associated with cancer progression. Its molecular functions in breast cancer remain poorly understood. METHODS: This study evaluated the expression of NCEH1 in breast cancer patients using multiple databases. Functionally, the effects of NCEH1 silencing or overexpression on breast cancer cell growth and motility were investigated. RNA-seq was employed to identify downstream target genes and signalling pathways. RESULTS: The expression of NCEH1 in breast cancer tissues and cells was significantly higher than that in normal tissues and cells. Silencing NCEH1 suppressed breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, NCEH1 regulated Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) expression, and both promoted malignant phenotypes in breast cancer by activating the TNF-α/NF-κB signalling pathway. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that NCEH1 accelerates breast cancer progression by modulating NRP1 and activating the TNF-α/NF-κB signalling pathway. Collectively, NCEH1 represents a potential novel biomarker and therapeutic target for breast cancer.