Early detection and surgical excision of tumors have helped improve the survival rate of patients with breast cancer. However, patients with metastatic cancer typically have a poor prognosis. In this study, we propose that ANKRD1 promotes metastasis of breast cancer. ANKRD1 was found to be highly expressed in the MDA-MB-231 and MDA-LM-2 highly metastatic breast cancer cell lines compared to the non-metastatic breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, ZR-75-30, T47D) and normal breast cancer cells (MCF-10A). Furthermore, high-grade tumors showed increased levels of ANKRD1 compared to low-grade tumors. Both in vitro and in vivo functional studies demonstrated the essential role of ANKRD1 in cancer cell migration and invasion. The previous studies have suggested a significant role of NF-κB and MAGE-A6 in breast cancer metastasis, but the upstream regulators of this axis are not well characterized. Our study suggests that ANKRD1 promotes metastasis of breast cancer by activating NF-κB as well as MAGE-A6 signaling. Our findings show that ANKRD1 is a potential therapeutic target and a diagnostic marker for breast cancer metastasis.

Idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) is increasingly observed in girls. Premature thelarche (PT) and exaggerated thelarche (ET) are early pubertal variants that can be challenging to distinguish from CPP in clinical practice. Exosomal microRNAs are stable biomarkers capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier. Although miR-30b-5p has been reported to increase in pubertal boys and girls, human studies investigating microRNAs in CPP and puberty remain limited. To investigate exosomal microRNA expression profiles and associated pathways in early pubertal development, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 28 girls aged 6–8 years. Serum exosomal microRNA expression was analyzed using next-generation sequencing. Differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) between groups were identified, followed by pathway enrichment analysis. Distinct exosomal miRNA expression patterns were observed among the CPP, ET, and control groups, with 307 DEmiRNAs identified. The CPP, PT, and ET groups exhibited distinct miRNA expression profiles compared with the control group. miR-30b-5p was upregulated in the CPP, ET, and PT groups compared with the control group. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of various signaling pathways including AGE–RAGE, MAPK, and mTOR signaling pathways. Serum exosomal microRNAs may serve as biomarkers for early puberty and provide insight into metabolic influences on pubertal development.