FOXQ1 is overexpressed in laryngeal carcinoma and affects cell growth, cell cycle progression and cell invasion.

Forkhead box Q1 (FOXQ1) is a forkhead transcription factor that is involved in numerous biological processes and has been shown to participate in tumorigenesis. However, the clinical significance of the expression of this protein in laryngeal carcinoma, and the mechanisms underlying its regulation in this disease remain unclear. The aim of present study was to measure the expression of FOXQ1 in laryngeal carcinoma, and to examine its effect on tumorigenesis. In the present study, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were employed to measure FOXQ1 expression in laryngeal carcinoma tissue samples, small interfering RNA specific to FOXQ1, was transfected into Hep2 cells and its effect on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and cell migration was examined, using a CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and a transwell migration assay, respectively. The results showed overexpression of FOXQ1 mRNA and protein in laryngeal cancer tissue samples. Inhibition of FOXQ1 suppressed cell growth and invasion, and arrested cells in the G0/G1 phase. Overexpression of FOXQ1 is associated with the development of laryngeal carcinoma and may enhance tumorigenesis through its effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and cell migration.