Knockdown of Forkhead box A1 suppresses the tumorigenesis and progression of human colon cancer cells through regulating the phosphatase and tensin homolog/Akt pathway

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the role and the underlying mechanisms of Forkhead box A1 (encoded by FOXA1) in colon cancer.

Methods: We analyzed FOXA1 mRNA and protein expression in colon cancer tissues and cell lines. We also silenced FOXA1 expression in HCT116 and SW480 cells to evaluate the effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle, migration, and invasion by using MTT, colony formation, flow cytometry, and the Transwell assay, respectively.

Results: FOXA1 immunostaining was higher in colon cancer tissues than adjacent healthy tissues. FOXA1 mRNA and protein expression was significantly increased in human colon cancer cells compared with a normal colonic cell line. FOXA1 expression was also significantly higher in colorectal cancer tissues from TCGA data sets and was associated with worse prognosis in the R2 database. FOXA1 expression was negatively correlated with the extent of its methylation, and its knockdown reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced G2/M phase arrest in HCT116 and SW480 cells by suppressing the phosphatase and tensin homolog/Akt signaling pathway and inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Conclusion: FOXA1 may act as an oncogene in colon cancer tumorigenesis and development.