Overexpression of SFXN1 indicates poor prognosis and promotes tumor progression in lung adenocarcinoma

Sideroflexin 1 (SFXN1) functions as a mitochondrial serine transporter in one-carbon metabolism. The association between SFXN1 and tumorigenesis remains to be elucidated. This study illustrated the functional role of SFXN1 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). SFXN1 expression in LUAD specimens was examined using western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and the prognostic value between SFXN1 and clinicopathological parameters was investigated. Subsequently, the effects of SFXN1 on cellular proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were assessed by using Transwell assays and flow cytometry in A549 and H1299 cell lines. Western blotting was also employed to explore the mechanism of tumor progression. SFXN1 was significantly elevated in the LUAD samples compared with the para-carcinoma tissues. Furthermore, SFXN1 expression was an independent prognostic predictor for patients with LUAD. The expression of SFXN1 was altered in A549 and H1299 cell lines and this showed that SFXN1 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and inhibited apoptosis. SFXN1, at least partially, influenced LUAD progression via the mTOR signaling pathway. Collectively, the findings from this study demonstrated that SFXN1 promotes LUAD progression via the mTOR pathway and that SFXN1 expression is associated with clinicopathological features of LUAD. SFXN1 significantly contributes to the development of LUAD and might have potential, not only as an independent prognostic marker of LAUD but also as a promising target for LUAD therapy.