Abstract: Objective　To investigate biological functions of HJURP in renal caner. Methods　TCGA database was used to identify the effect of HJURP on the expression and prognosis in renal cancer. The expression levels of HJURP were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 20 samples of renal tumor tissues, renal cell carcinoma cell lines CAKI-1, 786O and A498, and renal tubular cells HK2 . CAKI-1 cell line was transfected with siRNA, and cell colony formation assay and MTT assay were performed to detect the proliferation viability of renal cancer cells in si-HJURP group and control group. Flow cytometry assay was performed to detect the cell cycle changes. Transwell assay were performed to detect cell migration. Western blot assay was used to detect epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and AKT pathway related proteins. Results　(1)The expression of HJURP was significantly high in renal cancer tissues in the TCGA database, and it increased with the upgrading of tumor stages (P＜0.05). The overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate were significantly decreased in patients with high expression of HJURP than those in patients with low expression of HJURP. (2) The expressions of HJURP were higher in renal cancer tissues and renal cancer cell lines than those in adjacent tissues and renal tubular cells. (3) The results of cytology assay showed that compared with the NC group, the proliferation activity of CAKI-1 cells was significantly inhibited in the si-HJURP group, and the proportion of cells in the G2 phase increased, the number of cell migration decreased significantly, and the expression of EMT-related protein N-cadherin decreased. The expression of E-cadherin increased, and the key proteins of AKT pathway p-AKT and p-GSK3β were significantly down-regulated (P＜0.05). Conclusion　HJURP is highly expressed in renal cancer and promotes the proliferation and migration of renal cancer. It can be used as a potential clinical diagnosis and treatment target and prognostic marker for cancer.

Key words: kidney neoplasms, RNA, small interfering, cell proliferation, cell movement, cell cycle, HJURP gene