title: High expression of atonal homolog 8 predicts a poor clinical outcome in patients with colorectal cancer and contributes to tumor progression.
abstract: Hitherto, it has been identified that numerous basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors play vital roles in tumor initiation and progression. Atonal homolog 8 (ATOH8) is a member of the bHLH family of transcription factors, which participates in embryogenesis and the development of various tissues. Several studies have demonstrated that ATOH8 is involved in the progression of malignancies; however, the effects of ATOH8 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore the expression and function of ATOH8 in CRC. The present study included 106 paired CRCs and peritumoral samples. The expression of ATOH8 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and the results were compared with the clinical outcomes of the patients. Furthermore, cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, wound healing and cytotoxicity assays were performed in colon cancer cell line SW620. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the expression of ATOH8 in CRC tissues was significantly increased compared with the peritumoral tissues, and that the high expression of ATOH8 was associated with a high serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level and a worse overall survival. In vitro assays revealed that ATOH8 knockdown in colon cancer cells inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest at the S phase, and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells and sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The present study suggests that ATOH8 promotes the progression of CRC and may potentially serve as a novel prognostic predictor and potential therapeutic target in CRC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lucheng, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Mengsi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lucheng, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lucheng, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lucheng, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shouxing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lucheng, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lucheng, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lucheng, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jinwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lucheng, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guangrong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lucheng, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jihang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lucheng, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhan-Xiong
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lucheng, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Zhai
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D005472:Fluorouracil; C486727:ATOH8 protein, human