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Nanotheranostics 2024; 8(4): 442-457. [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
Nanotheranostics 2024; 8(4): 427-441. [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
International Journal of Biological Sciences
International Journal of Medical Sciences
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Theranostics 2019; 9(13):3879-3902. doi:10.7150/thno.31716 This issue Cite
Research Paper
Forkhead box K2 promotes human colorectal cancer metastasis by upregulating ZEB1 and EGFR
1. State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, China.
2. Department of Gastroenterology, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, 100048, China.
3. Department of Infectious Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi, China.
4. The Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 1 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710038, China.
5. Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Fuxing Road No. 28, Haidian District, Beijing, 100853, China.
6. Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
#These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract
Background: Metastasis is the major reason for high recurrence rates and poor survival among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the underlying molecular mechanism of CRC metastasis is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of forkhead box K2 (FOXK2), one of the most markedly increased FOX genes in CRC, and the mechanism by which it is deregulated in CRC metastasis.
Methods: FOXK2 levels were analyzed in two independent human CRC cohorts (cohort I, n = 363; cohort II, n = 390). In vitro Transwell assays and in vivo lung and liver metastasis models were used to examine CRC cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays were used to measure the binding of transcription factors to the promoters of FOXK2, zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Cetuximab was utilized to treat FOXK2-mediated metastatic CRC.
Results: FOXK2 was significantly upregulated in human CRC tissues, was correlated with more aggressive features and indicated a poor prognosis. FOXK2 overexpression promoted CRC migration, invasion and metastasis, while FOXK2 downregulation had the opposite effects. ZEB1 and EGFR were determined to be direct transcriptional targets of FOXK2 and were essential for FOXK2-mediated CRC metastasis. Moreover, activation of EGFR signaling by EGF enhanced FOXK2 expression via the extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathways. The EGFR monoclonal antibody cetuximab significantly inhibited FOXK2-promoted CRC metastasis. In clinical CRC tissues, FOXK2 expression was positively correlated with the expression of p65, ZEB1 and EGFR. CRC patients who coexpressed p65/FOXK2, FOXK2/ZEB1 and FOXK2/EGFR had poorer prognosis.
Conclusions: FOXK2 serves as a prognostic biomarker in CRC. Cetuximab can block the EGF-NF-κB-FOXK2-EGFR feedback loop and suppress CRC metastasis.
Keywords: Forkhead box K2, colorectal cancer, metastasis, epidermal growth factor receptor, cetuximab
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