Downregulation of ST6GAL2 expression promotes colon cancer cell growth and metastasis: a multidimensional study

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.1674-0785.2024.11.008

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective

To investigate the effect of ST6GAL2 on the growth and metastasis of colon cancer cells.

Methods

The effect of ST6GAL2 on the growth and metastasis of colon cancer cells was studied from the bioinformatics, histology, and cytology levels. The expression of ST6GAL2 in colorectal cancer was analyzed based on the TCGA and GEO databases, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the relationship between ST6GAL2 expression and overall survival. Immunohistochemistry was used to verify the expression of ST6GAL2 in colorectal cancer tissue samples. RT-qpCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression level of ST6GAL2 in colorectal cancer cell lines. SW480 and HT29 cells were infected with lentivirus to construct stable cell lines with ST6GAL2 knockdown and overexpression.The effects of ST6GAL2 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected by CCK-8 assay,colony formation assay, cell scratch assay, and Transwell invasion assay.

Results

Based on the TCGA and GEO databases, the expression of ST6GAL2 in colorectal cancer tissues was lower than that in normal tissues (P=0.032), and the expression of ST6GAL2 in right-sided colon cancer was lower than that in leftsided colon cancer (P<0.0001). Prognostic analysis showed that the expression of ST6GAL2 was positively correlated with overall survival in MSS-type colon cancer (P=0.0209). Immunohistochemistry results showed that ST6GAL2 was highly expressed in normal tissues but relatively low in tumor tissues (P<0.0001); the expression of ST6GAL2 in right-sided colon cancer was significantly lower than that in left-sided colon cancer (P=0.018). CCK-8 and colony formation assays showed that the proliferation ability (P<0.0001) and colony formation ability (P<0.05) of colon cancer cells were enhanced after ST6GAL2 knockdown. Transwell assay showed that down-regulation of ST6GAL2 expression promoted the migration (P<0.01) and invasion(P<0.05) of colon cancer cells. The results of the same experimental methods showed that overexpression of ST6GAL2 inhibited cell proliferation and migration.

Conclusion

The expression of ST6GAL2 decreases in colorectal cancer tissues and is lower in right-sided colon cancer than in left-sided colon cancer. In MSStype colon cancer, the expression of ST6GAL2 is positively correlated with prognosis. Downregulation of ST6GAL2 expression promotes CRC cell growth, migration, and invasion, while overexpression of ST6GAL2 inhibits cell growth and metastasis.

Key words: Colorectal cancer, Left/right-sided colon cancer, ST6GAL2, Prognosis

Yu Cheng, Jin Gu. Downregulation of ST6GAL2 expression promotes colon cancer cell growth and metastasis: a multidimensional study[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinicians(Electronic Edition), 2024, 18(11): 1019-1029.

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