Centromere protein F is identified as a novel therapeutic target by genomics profile and contributing to the progression of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the most severe and serious deadliest cancer type worldwide. Centromeric proteins (CENPs) family are involved in centromere formation and kinetochore organization during mitosis and play an important role in cancers. Here, we analyzed all CENPs in a panel of PC tissues and non-tumor tissues by genomics profile. We identified that CENPF is significantly upregulated in PC and correlated with poor prognosis of patients. Furthermore, silencing CENPF significantly inhibited PC cell proliferation, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and caused cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, meanwhile, in vivo growth of pancreatic cells. Moreover, the TNF pathway and longevity regulating pathways are two potential pathways, which were regulated by CENPF. These findings investigated the clinical and functional contribution of CENPF as a novel biomarker for PC. •CENPF is identified upregulation in pancreatic cancer by genomics profile.•High expression of CENPF is correlated with poor prognosis of patients.•Silencing CENPF significantly inhibited PC cell proliferation, migration and EMT.•Silencing CENPF caused cell cycle arrest and tumorigenicity of pancreatic cells. CENPF is a novel therapeutic target and biomarker of pancreatic cancer.