Elevated expression of Golgi Transport 1B promotes the progression of cervical cancer by activating NF-κB signaling pathway via interaction with TBK1

Abstract As a preventable disease, cervical cancer (cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma—CESC) remains a tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, underscoring the pressing need for effective treatment strategies. This research identified Golgi transport 1B (GOLT1B) as a critical gene involved in the development of cervical cancer. Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were investigated to determine the upregulation of GOLT1B in cervical cancer tissue compared with normal tissue. Besides, GOLT1B was found to predict poor prognosis in cervical cancer by utilizing Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA). The functional assay indicated that GOLT1B promoted CESC viability and migration in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing results suggested that GOLT1B likely influenced the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) pathway. The subsequent western blot and dual luciferase reporter assay revealed the interaction between GOLT1B and TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1), modulating the NF-κB pathway. More importantly, GOLT1B was also found to regulate immune cell infiltration, suggesting its potential role in the tumor microenvironment. In conclusion, GOLT1B promotes CESC progression via interaction with TBK1 and augmentation of NF-κB signaling-mediated cancer-associated inflammation, which provides us with a new approach to CESC target therapy.