VRK1 Is a Novel Therapeutic Target for Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Cervix

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (SCNEC) is a high-grade neuroendocrine malignancy with a significantly worse prognosis than other cervical cancer histologies, and its rarity limits available research resources. This study identifies vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) as a therapeutic target for SCNEC. VRK1 showed consistently high expression in SCNEC patient samples, and VRK1 knockdown suppressed proliferation in three-dimensional cultures and inhibited xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Transcriptome enrichment implicated mitochondrial pathways, and under oxidative stress, VRK1 knockdown reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and lowered COX IV expression, indicating indirect mitochondrial dysfunction and anti-tumor activity.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

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Pages12

Reading Time30 min

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Abstract

Introduction

Epidemiology and prognosis of cervical cancer and SCNEC

Treatment challenges and rationale for target identification

Molecular similarities and prior proteomic findings

VRK1 background and therapeutic relevance

# VRK1 Is a Novel Therapeutic Target for Small CellNeuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Cervix Mariya Kobayashi¹D I Satoshi Nakagawa¹D I Yusuke Ishii¹I Yuji Kamei¹-2 I Mizuki Kanda¹,3 |Tatsuo Masuda¹IMamoru Kakuda¹I Kosuke Hiramatsu¹D I Tadashi Iwamiya¹I Tomomi Egawa-Takata⁴D I Shinya Matsuzaki¹IHiroyuki Uematsu³|Kunishige Onuma³|Masahiro Inoue³D I Yutaka Ueda¹D I Tadashi Kimura,5 IMichiko Kodama¹ ¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Graduate School of Medicine,The University of osaka,Osaka,Japan I²Department of Obstetrics andGynecology,HigashiosakaCity Medical Center,Osaka,Japan I ³Department of Clinical Bio-Resource Research and Development,Graduate School ofMedicine,Kyoto University,Kyoto,Japan I △Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Kansai Rosai Hospital,Amagasaki,Hyogo,Japan I 5Sakai CityHospital Organization,Osaka,Japan Correspondence:Satoshi Nakagawa(s.nakagawa@gyne.med.osaka-u.ac.jp)Received:23 March 2025 I Revised:15 September 2025 I Accepted:18September 2025 Funding:This work was supported in part by Osaka Prefecture Subsidy for the Promotion of the Medical Career Development Support Program for 2022,2023,and 2024. Keywords:cervical cancer lin vivo l mitochondria l small cell neuroendocrine carcinomaIVRK1 ## ABSTRACT Smallcell neuroendocrine carcinoma ofthe cervix(SCNEC)is classified asa high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma with a worseprognosis than other major histological types of cervical cancer.Identifying novel therapeutic targets based on its molecularcharacteristics is highly desirable but challenging due to the rarity of SCNEC and the resultinglack of research resources.In thisstudy,we identified vaccinia-related kinase 1(VRK1)as a potential therapeutic target forSCNEC.VRK1 was prioritized based onour previously reported proteomic analysis of patient-derived organoids.Immunohistochemistry of patient samples consistentlyrevealed high VRK1 expression in SCNEC,as opposed to its variable expression in other cervical carcinomas.Although VRK1knockdown in SCNEC had only a limited effect on cell proliferation in two-dimensional cultures,it significantly suppressedcell proliferation in three-dimensional cultures and inhibited xenograft tumor growth in vivo.Gene set enrichment analysis ofRNA-sequencing data from mouse xenograft models demonstrated that VRK1 is associated with mitochondrial-related path-ways.Furthermore,under oxidative stress conditions,VRK1 knockdown resulted in a reduction of mitochondrial membranepotential,an indicator of mitochondrial integrity,and decreased expression of cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV(COX IV),anuclear-encoded subunit of cytochrome c oxidase,the terminal enzyme complex of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.Thesefindings suggest that VRK1 knockdownindirectly impaired mitochondrial function.Collectively,these anti-tumor effects high-light VRK1 as a promising therapeutic target for SCNEC. ## 1|Introduction Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women,with 662,301 new cases (age-standardized rate:14.1 per100,000)and 348,874 deaths (age-standardized rate:7.1 per100,000)reported worldwide [1].Small cell neuroendocrinecarcinoma of the cervix(SCNEC)is classified as a high-gradeneuroendocrine carcinoma and has a worse prognosis thanother major histological types of cervicalcancer,such as squa-mous cell carcinoma(SCC)and adenocarcinoma(AC).Theoverall 5-year survival(OS)rate for cervical cancer is approx-imately 70%,whereas the stage-specific 5-year OS rates forSCNEC are 56.7%,41.0%,27.6%,and 5.3%for stages I,II,III,and IV,respectively[2-7]. Regarding the treatment of SCNEC,chemotherapy plays acrucial role due to its aggressive nature,with a high propor-tion of patients presenting with metastatic disease [2,5,8-9].However,SCNEC is rare,accounting for only approximately1%of all cervical cancers,resulting in a lack of basic researchand Level I evidence [4,5,7].As a result,chemotherapy forSCNEC has traditionally been adapted from those usedfor small cell lung can

FAQs

Why are novel therapeutic targets for SCNEC urgently needed?

SCNEC has a worse prognosis than other cervical cancer types and is rare, which results in limited research resources and lack of high-level evidence for treatment strategies.

How was VRK1 identified as a potential SCNEC therapeutic target?

VRK1 was prioritized using previously reported proteomic analysis of patient-derived organoids, followed by immunohistochemistry that showed high VRK1 expression in SCNEC samples.

What evidence links VRK1 knockdown to anti-tumor effects in SCNEC?

VRK1 knockdown showed limited effects on proliferation in two-dimensional cultures, but significantly suppressed proliferation in three-dimensional cultures and inhibited xenograft tumor growth in vivo.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai