Cancer Management and Research (Jun 2024)

Guanine-Rich RNA Sequence Binding Factor 1 Deficiency Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression by Regulating PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

  • Huang J,
  • Liu J,
  • Lan J,
  • Sun J,
  • Zhou K,
  • Deng Y,
  • Liang L,
  • Liu L,
  • Liu X

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 16
pp. 629 – 638

Abstract

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Jingzhan Huang,1,* Jialong Liu,1,* Jin Lan,1,* Jingbo Sun,1 Kun Zhou,1 Yunyao Deng,1 Li Liang,2 Lixin Liu,1,* Xiaolong Liu1 1Department of General Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lixin Liu; Xiaolong Liu, Department of General Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, 183 West Zhongshan Avenue, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Guanine-rich RNA sequence binding factor 1 (GRSF1), part of the RNA-binding protein family, is now attracting interest due to its potential association with the progression of a variety of human cancers. The precise contribution and molecular mechanism of GRSF1 to colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, however, have yet to be clarified.Methods: Immunohistochemistry and Western Blot analysis was carried out to detect the expression of GRSF1 in CRC at both mRNA and protein levels and its subsequent effects on prognosis. A series of functional tests were performed to understand its influence on proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells.Results: The universal downregulation of GRSF1 in CRC was identified, indicating a correlation with poor prognosis. Our functional studies unveiled that the elimination of GRSF1 enhances tumour activities such as proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells, while GRSF1 overexpression curtailed these abilities.Conclusion: Notably, we uncovered that GRSF1 insufficiency modulates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and Ras activation in CRC. Therefore, our data suggest GRSF1 operates as a tumor suppressor gene in CRC and may offer promise as a potential biomarker and novel therapeutic target in CRC management. Keywords: GRSF1, CRC, proliferation, metastasis, Ras/PI3K/Akt

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