TBX2‐WNT3A Axis Mediates the Development of Colorectal Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo

This study is designed to explore the roles of the T-Box transcription factor 2 (TBX2)-Wnt family member 3A (WNT3A) axis in colorectal cancer. Clinical specimens are collected from the colorectal cancer patients and the volunteers. TBX2 overexpression and knockout stable cell lines and WNT3A knockdown cells are constructed. The xenograft animal model is established by using those stable cell lines. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion are evaluated. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting are used to determine the expression levels of target biomarkers. ChIP analysis is utilized to assess the enrichment of TBX2 on the promoter site of WNT3A. An elevation of TBX2 is observed in colorectal cancer specimens and TBX2 expression is positively correlated to cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Besides, TBX2 regulates the expressions of biomarkers relevant to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and WNT3A signaling pathways. Interestingly, WNT3A also promotes the HCT116 cell proliferation, migration, invasion by the regulation of EMT-related biomarkers. The in vivo study shows that the TBX2-WNT3A axis promotes tumor growth. TBX2-WNT3A axis promotes the development of colorectal cancer.