Published online Jan 28, 2018. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i4.475
Peer-review started: October 25, 2017
First decision: November 14, 2017
Revised: November 23, 2017
Accepted: November 28, 2017
Article in press: November 28, 2017
Published online: January 28, 2018
Processing time: 95 Days and 13.3 Hours
To investigate expression of cell cycle-related and expression-elevated protein in tumor (CREPT) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and determine its prognostic value in response to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).
The relative expression of CREPT in CRC tumor samples was determined using immunohistochemistry. The protein content in cell lines was analyzed by immunoblotting. Cell viability was measured with the CCK-8 assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis analyses were performed with flow cytometry.
CREPT was overexpressed in CRC tissues and correlated with histological grade. Clinicopathological analysis indicated that CREPT was positively related to tumor progression. Exogenous expression of CREPT stimulated cell proliferation and accelerated the cell cycle. More importantly, high expression of CREPT sensitized CRC cells to 5-FU treatment. Furthermore, we demonstrated that 5-FU elicited significant apoptosis in CREPT-positive cells.
Aberrant overexpression of CREPT contributes to tumorigenesis of CRC by promoting cell proliferation and accelerating the cell cycle, and confers sensitivity to 5-FU. CREPT is a potential prognostic biomarker for 5-FU in CRC.
Core tip: Cell cycle-related and expression-elevated protein in tumor (CREPT) is an oncogene that is preferentially expressed in diverse human tumors. Overexpression of CREPT promotes cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. However, the expression and mechanistic involvement of CREPT in colorectal cancer have not been fully investigated. Despite advances in clinical applications of 5-fluorouracil, drug resistance remains a significant limitation to its clinical use. A prognostic biomarker for administration of this drug is still urgently needed.