PRDM16 suppresses papillary thyroid cancer via epithelial mesenchymal transition by directly targeting pyruvate carboxylase

Herein we identified that PRDM16 was downregulated in papillary thyroid cancer tissues and was significantly related with lymph node metastases and extrathyroidal extension in both FUSCC and TCGA cohorts. Overexpression of PRDM16 could attenuate proliferation and migration of PTC cells via repressing EMT process. Mechanically, we found that PRDM16 directly bind to pyruvate carboxylase (PC) promoter and inhibited its expression at transcription level. The repression effect on cell proliferation and migration from PRDM16 was PC dependent. In conclusion, we for the first time identify PRDM16 can repress EMT in tumorigenesis of PTC via targeting PC.