CBX2 promotes cervical cancer cell proliferation and resistance to DNA-damaging treatment via maintaining cancer stemness

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death among women. Advanced stages and resistance to treatment in cervical cancer induce cancer-related deaths. Although epigenetics has been known to plays a vital role in tumor progression and resistance, the function of epigenetic regulators in cervical cancer is an area of investigation. In this study, we focused on an epigenetic regulator, polycomb repressor complex 1 (PRC1) in cervical cancer. Through bioinformatics analysis and immunochemistry, we subsequently identified CBX2, the deregulated subunit of PRC1, which is up-regulated in cervical cancer and associated with poor prognosis and unfavorable clinicopathological characteristics. We provided functional evidence demonstrating that CBX2 promoted cervical cancer cell proliferation. Furthermore, CBX2 exhibited an anti-apoptotic effect, which induced resistance to cisplatin and ionizing radiation in cervical cancer cells. Moreover, CBX2 was involved in maintaining cancer stemness. These findings suggest CBX2 plays an important role in cervical cancer progression and resistance to treatment, and may serve as a potential biomarker for prognosis and resistance as well as a potential therapeutic target.