HNF6 promotes tumor growth in colorectal cancer and enhances liver metastasis in mouse model.

Abstract

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 6 (HNF6), as a transcription factor, has been reported to be involved in cell proliferation, carcinogenesis, and tumor metastasis. Here, we demonstrated the role of HNF6 in tumor growth and liver metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Through bioinformatics and clinical samples analysis, we found HNF6 messenger RNA was upregulated both in CRC primary sites and liver metastases, and its high expression indicated poor survival in CRC patients. In vitro studies confirmed that HNF6 promoted cell proliferation and colony formation. What is more, in mouse models, the xenografts grew significantly faster and liver metastasis rate was nearly 45% higher in mice injected with HNF6-overexpressing cells. Further mechanism exploration showed that HNF6 expression affected cell adhesion and conferred resistance to anoikis in CRC cells. Taken together, HNF6 expression was upregulated in CRC and closely correlated with poor survival. HNF6 promoted CRC cell proliferation and tumor growth, and may contribute to liver metastasis via conferring cell resistance to anoikis.

• Authors: Kai Jiang, Yurong Jiao, Yue Liu, Dongliang Fu, Haitao Geng, Liubo Chen, Haiyan Chen, Xiangfeng Shen, Lifeng Sun, Kefeng Ding
• Journal: Journal of cellular physiology (J Cell Physiol) Vol. 234 Issue 4 Pg. 3675-3684 (04 2019) ISSN: 1097-4652 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30256389 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 6
• ONECUT1 protein, human

Topics

• Animals
• Anoikis
• Cell Adhesion
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Movement
• Cell Proliferation
• Colorectal Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, mortality, pathology)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 6 (genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, mortality, secondary)
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Nude
• Signal Transduction
• Tumor Burden
• Up-Regulation