BACKGROUND

Understanding the regulatory mechanisms behind colon cancer (CC) pathogenesis is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been implicated in various cancers, including CC, where it may play a role in tumor progression. Additionally, the transcription factor cyclic adenosine monophosphate-responsive element-binding protein 3 (CREB3) has been suggested to regulate lncRNA expression, but its role in CC remains unclear. This study investigates the CREB3- regulatory axis, focusing on how this interaction influences CC cell proliferation and its potential as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

METHODS

To explore the CREB3- axis, bioinformatics analysis was conducted to identify the promoter and predict potential transcription factor binding sites. Expression levels of CREB3 and were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, which provided a broader understanding of their correlation in human CC samples. Additionally, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed in SW480 CC cells to validate these findings at the cellular level. Luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments were employed to confirm the binding of CREB3 to the promoter, providing direct evidence of their interaction. Finally, functional assays, including cell proliferation assays and knockdown experiments, were carried out to assess the impact of on CREB3-induced proliferation in CC cells.

RESULTS

Bioinformatics and experimental analysis revealed that CREB3 directly binds to the promoter, leading to significant upregulation of transcription in CC cells. Data from TCGA and RT-qPCR analyses showed a positive correlation between CREB3 and expression in CC tissues, supporting the hypothesis of a regulatory link. Functional assays demonstrated that overexpression of CREB3 enhanced CC cell proliferation, while silencing reversed this effect, indicating that mediates CREB3-induced proliferation. These results suggest that the CREB3- axis plays a critical role in CC progression.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the CREB3- axis as a pivotal mechanism driving CC cell proliferation. Targeting this regulatory pathway may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for CC treatment, with the potential for developing lncRNA-based therapies aimed at inhibiting this axis to slow down tumor growth and progression.