Overexpression of eIF4E in colorectal cancer patients is associated with liver metastasis

Liver metastasis is one of the leading causes of death in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the value of eIF4E as a prognostic marker of colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) and identify the functional role of eIF4E in CRC metastasis.

The expression level of eIF4E in CRC tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. Expression of eIF4E in CRC cell lines was evaluated by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays were performed to assess the effects of eIF4E on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Western blot was further used to investigate the mechanism of eIF4E in tumor metastasis.

The upregulation frequency of eIF4E in the CLM group (82.5%) was higher than that in the non-CLM group (65.0%). Of the 80 patients recruited for the follow-up study, 23 were in the low eIF4E group (ratio of tumor to nontumor tissue

The results of the present study indicated that high eIF4E levels in CRC patients predicted a high risk of liver metastasis. Knockdown of eIF4E inhibited CRC cell metastasis in part through regulating the expression of cyclin D1, VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9.