Impact of IGF2BP2 on the invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cells through modulating ASCL2 mRNA stability
LU Qun
PENG Aici
WU Yunfeng
LI Zhuo
Abstract：Objective To explore the expression of achaete-scute family bHLH transcription factor 2(ASCL2)in colorectal cancer and the possible mechanisms of its impact on the biological characteristics of colorectal cancer cells.Methods Based on bioinformatics analysis,this study investigated the expression of ASCL2 in colorectal cancer tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database and its correlation with patients'clinical characteristics.After knocking down ASCL2 expression in colorectal cancer SW480 cells using siRNA transfection,Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8),colony formation assay,wound healing assay,and Transwell assay were employed to evaluate the effects of ASCL2 on the proliferation,invasion,and migration abilities of SW480 cells.Furthermore,through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation,the upstream regulatory factor of ASCL2,insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2(IGF2BP2),was screened and studied.Simultaneous intervention of ASCL2 and IGF2BP2 expression in SW480 cells was conducted to explore their synergistic functional mechanisms in colorectal cancer cells.Results ASCL2 was significantly highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissues,and its expression holded certain value in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer.The high expression of ASCL2 was significantly associated with tumor TNM stage,T stage,and metastasis status.CCK-8 and colony formation assay results showed that downregulation of ASCL2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of SW480 cells.Wound healing and Transwell assay results indicated that downregulation of ASCL2 markedly suppressed migration and invasion abilities.Bioinformatics analysis revealed that IGF2BP2 could interact with ASCL2.In the TCGA database,IGF2BP2 was highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissues.Mechanistically,knocking down IGF2BP2 significantly reduced the stability of ASCL2 mRNA and inhibited cell proliferation,migration,and invasion abilities.However,overexpression of ASCL2 could reverse the aforementioned functional inhibitory effects caused by IGF2BP2 knockdown.Conclusion IGF2BP2 promotes the proliferation,invasion,and migration of colorectal cancer cells by maintaining ASCL2 stability.This finding reveals the critical role of ASCL2 in the progression of colorectal cancer and provides a theoretical basis for its potential as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target.
Keywords：Colorectal cancerAchaete-scute family bHLH transcription factor 2Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2MigrationInvasion
Publication Date：2025-07-28
Online Publishing Date：2025-10-17(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 645-651 )