KDM3A is associated with tumor metastasis and modulates colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion.

Lysine demethylase 3A (KDM3A) is been suggested to accelerate tumor cell migration and invasion in breast cancer, cervical cancer, Ewing sarcoma and neuroblastoma. The role of KDM3A in colorectal cancer progression and metastasis remains unknown. The aim of this study is to explore the clinical significance and biological function of KDM3A in colorectal cancer. In our results, we found KDM3A expression was significantly increased in colorectal cancer metastatic lesions compared with primary lesions, but had no statistical difference between colorectal cancer tissues and normal colorectal tissues. Moreover, high KDM3A expression was correlated with poor histological differentiation, and advanced clinical stage, N classification, M classification and short overall survival in colorectal cancer patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses indicated that high expression of KDM3A served as an independent unfavorable prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients. The loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies showed KDM3A functioned as oncogene to regulate colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion through modulating EMT and MMPs. In conclusion, KDM3A is a promising therapeutic target for preventing metastasis and improving prognosis in colorectal cancer.