Uncovering tumor markers of colorectal cancer is important for the early detection and prognosis of the patients. Spermine oxidase (SMOX) is upregulated in various cancers. The present study aims to explore the biologic function and expression patterns of SMOX in colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common type of cancer worldwide. We used quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, and in vitro functional studies in four CRC cell lines knocked down by SMOX siRNA and immunohistochemistry in 350 cases of CRC tissues. The results showed that SMOX was overexpressed in CRC cell lines and clinical samples. SMOX overexpression in tumor tissues was an independent prognostic factor, worsening overall survival (p = 0.001). The knock-down of SMOX inhibited CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and soft agar colony formation, uncovering its carcinogenic functions. This study indicated that SMOX overexpression could be an important oncogene in CRC and might serve as a valuable prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target for CRC.

Cancer is a major disease and the leading cause of death worldwide, with colorectal cancer (CRC) being the third-most common cancer in Korea. The survival rate associated with CRC reduces as the disease stage increases. Therefore, its early detection and treatment can greatly increase patient survival rates. In this study, we identified the tetraspanin 5 (TSPAN5) gene as an important biomarker for predicting the prognosis of patients with CRC. A TMA slide was used for statistical analysis. pN and clinical stage were found to be significant factors according to chi-square analysis, whereas pT, pN, metastasis, clinical stage, and TSPAN5 expression were significant according to Cox regression analysis. In order to prove the usefulness of TSPAN5, which is overexpressed in patients with metastatic CRC, as a biomarker, proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity were examined using cell lines inhibited using small interfering RNA. The evaluations confirmed that TSPAN5 suppression, in turn, suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenesis, which are characteristic of cancer cells. Therefore, the evaluation of TSPAN5 expression may help observe the prognosis of CRC and determine an appropriate treatment method for patients with CRC.

Globally, the mortality rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains high. Despite the development of various treatments, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy, colorectal cancer continues to be a serious health issue worldwide. Identifying new biomarkers is essential for improving prognosis and tailoring targeted therapies for CRC. This study aims to elucidate the role of CYP4X1 in CRC and its association with patient survival and clinicopathological parameters. Using TCGA databases like GENT2, UALCAN, and GEPIA, we analyzed CYP4X1 expression in CRC and normal tissues. Our analysis revealed a significant increase in CYP4X1 expression in CRC tissues compared to normal tissues. And CYP4X1 high expression was strongly associated with advanced TNM stage, poor tumor differentiation, deeper invasion, and lymph node metastasis. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that high CYP4X1 expression correlated with shorter survival times. To investigate the relationship between CYP4X1 expression and colon cancer, WST-1, Transwell, and colony formation assays were performed using colon cancer cells with siRNA-mediated CYP4X1 downregulation. CYP4X1 downregulation significantly inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and colony formation in vitro. Furthermore, the tumor-forming ability in mice injected with cell lines where CYP4X1 expression was suppressed decreased. In conclusion, CYP4X1 overexpression is closely linked to CRC progression as an independent prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a commonly fatal cancer and ranks as the fourth most prevalent in men and third in women worldwide. While early-stage survival rates are high, they significantly decrease with recurrence and metastasis. Thus, the early detection and treatment of metastasis-related factors can significantly improve survival rates. In this study, the transmembrane 7 superfamily member 2 (TM7SF2) gene was validated as a biomarker for predicting metastasis in CRC. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 236 CRC tissues, and the clinicopathological factors of patients with CRC were analyzed. This evaluation revealed that TM7SF2 expression is associated with the clinical stage. Kaplan–Meier analysis confirmed the relationship between the survival rate of CRC patients and TM7SF2 expression, showing a decrease in survival rate with TM7SF2 overexpression (log-rank, p < 0.001). TM7SF2 expression was also confirmed in two pairs of primary and metastatic cell lines (SW480 and SW620). TM7SF2 knockdown was executed using siRNAs in SW480 and SW620 cells, which exhibit high expression levels. The knockdown was verified using RT-PCR and immunoblotting. Functional studies investigated the effects of TM7SF2 on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and colony formation, revealing that all these functions were suppressed in the CRC cell lines following TM7SF2 knockdown. Therefore, TM7SF2 shows promise as a biomarker for the prevention of colorectal cancer.