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Cancer Cell International

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Open Access 01-12-2022 | Metastasis | Primary research

HOXA7 promotes the metastasis of KRAS mutant colorectal cancer by regulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells

Authors: Yunzhi Dang, Jiao Yu, Shuhong Zhao, Ximing Cao, Qing Wang

Published in: Cancer Cell International | Issue 1/2022

Abstract

Background

KRAS mutation accounts for 30–50% of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cases. Due to the scarcity of effective treatment options, KRAS mutant CRC is difficult to treat in the clinic. Metastasis is still the major cause of the high mortality associated with KRAS mutant CRC, but the exact mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report a unique function of Homeobox 7 (HOXA7) in driving KRAS mutant CRC metastasis and explore therapeutic strategies for subpopulations of patients with this disease.

Methods

The expression of HOXA7 in a human CRC cohort was measured by immunohistochemistry. The function of HOXA7 in KRAS mutant CRC metastasis was analyzed with the cecum orthotopic model.

Results

Elevated HOXA7 expression was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, poor tumor differentiation, high TNM stage, and poor prognosis in CRC patients. Furthermore, HOXA7 was an independent prognostic marker in KRAS mutant CRC patients (P < 0.001) but not in KRAS wild-type CRC patients (P = 0.575). Overexpression of HOXA7 improved the ability of KRAS mutant CT26 cells to metastasize and simultaneously promoted the infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). When MDSC infiltration was blocked by a CXCR2 inhibitor, the metastasis rate of CT26 cells was markedly suppressed. The combination of the CXCR2 inhibitor SB265610 and programmed death-ligand 1 antibody (anti-PD-L1) could largely inhibit the metastasis of KRAS mutant CRC.

Conclusions

HOXA7 overexpression upregulated CXCL1 expression, which promoted MDSC infiltration. Interruption of this loop might provide a promising treatment strategy for HOXA7-mediated KRAS mutant CRC metastasis.

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Title: HOXA7 promotes the metastasis of KRAS mutant colorectal cancer by regulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells
Authors: Yunzhi Dang
Jiao Yu
Shuhong Zhao
Ximing Cao
Qing Wang
Publication date: 01-12-2022
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Metastasis
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Published in: Cancer Cell International / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2867
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-022-02519-9

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Abstract

Background

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