Colon adenocarcinoma (
COAD) is one of the most prevalent
malignancies, with poor prognosis and lack of effective treatment targets.
Squalene synthase (FDFT1) is an upstream
enzyme of
squalene epoxidase (SQLE) in
cholesterol biosynthesis. In a previous study, we revealed that SQLE promotes
colon cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Here, we investigate the prognostic value of FDFT1 in stage I-III
COAD and explore the potential underlying mechanisms.
Squalene synthase was significantly upregulated in stage I-III
COAD and positively correlated with poor differentiation and advanced
tumor stage. High expression of FDFT1 was an independent predictor of overall and relapse-free survival, and the nomograms based on FDFT1 could effectively identify patients at high risk of poor outcome.
Squalene synthase accelerated
colon cancer cell proliferation and promoted
tumor growth. Lack of FDFT1 resulted in accumulating NAT8 and D-
pantethine to lower
reactive oxygen species levels and inhibit
colon cancer cell proliferation. Moreover, the combined inhibition of FDFT1 and SQLE induced a greater suppressive effect on cell proliferation and
tumor growth than single inhibition. Taken together, these results indicate that FDFT1 predicts poor prognosis in stage I-III
COAD and has the
tumor-promoting effect on
COAD through regulating NAT8 and D-
pantethine. Targeting both FDFT1 and SQLE is a more promising
therapy than their single inhibition for stage I-III
COAD.