IGF1-mediated HOXA13 overexpression promotes colorectal cancer metastasis through upregulating ACLY and IGF1R

Cell Death Dis. 2021 Jun 1;12(6):564. doi: 10.1038/s41419-021-03833-2.

Abstract

Metastasis is the major reason for the high mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and its molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report a novel role of Homeobox A13 (HOXA13), a member of the Homeobox (HOX) family, in promoting CRC metastasis. The elevated expression of HOXA13 was positively correlated with distant metastasis, higher AJCC stage, and poor prognosis in two independent CRC cohorts. Overexpression of HOXA13 promoted CRC metastasis whereas downregulation of HOXA13 suppressed CRC metastasis. Mechanistically, HOXA13 facilitated CRC metastasis by transactivating ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R). Knockdown of ACLY and IGFIR inhibited HOXA13-medicated CRC metastasis, whereas ectopic overexpression of ACLY and IGFIR rescued the decreased CRC metastasis induced by HOXA13 knockdown. Furthermore, Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), the ligand of IGF1R, upregulated HOXA13 expression through the PI3K/AKT/HIF1α pathway. Knockdown of HOXA13 decreased IGF1-mediated CRC metastasis. In addition, the combined treatment of ACLY inhibitor ETC-1002 and IGF1R inhibitor Linsitinib dramatically suppressed HOXA13-mediated CRC metastasis. In conclusion, HOXA13 is a prognostic biomarker in CRC patients. Targeting the IGF1-HOXA13-IGF1R positive feedback loop may provide a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HOXA13-driven CRC metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase / metabolism*
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Dicarboxylic Acids / pharmacology
  • Fatty Acids / pharmacology
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Heterografts
  • Homeodomain Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Dicarboxylic Acids
  • Fatty Acids
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • IGF1 protein, human
  • IGF1R protein, human
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • homeobox A1 protein
  • 8-hydroxy-2,2,14,14-tetramethylpentadecanedioic acid
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1