Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate 1 Promotes HCC Proliferation and Metastasis in vitro and in vivo via the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Objective: To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate 1 (STEAP1) in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, and to validate its potential as a therapeutic target. Materials and Methods: In this study, STEAP1-knockdown models were used to evaluate cell proliferation, invasion and migration. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were performed to explore downstream mechanisms. Subcutaneous Xenograft Model in nude mice was used to investigate the role of STEAP1 in the proliferation of HCC in vivo. Results: STEAP1 knockdown significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, downregulated the expression of EMT-related proteins, and suppressed activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. In vivo, STEAP1 silencing effectively reduced the growth of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice. Conclusion: STEAP1 promotes HCC growth and metastasis by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and may serve as a promising therapeutic target for HCC.