GGN Promotes Tumorigenesis by Regulating Proliferation and Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. GGN is a germ cell-specific gene, but its function in CRC has been rarely reported to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of GGN in CRC tumorigenesis. Therefore, in this study, we examined the expression of GGN in CRC cell lines and tissues and its effects on cellular proliferation and apoptosis. We then explored the underlying mechanism. Our results showed that GGN was significantly overexpressed in both CRC cell lines and tissues. Silencing GGN robustly inhibited proliferation of CRC cells, and it also promoted apoptosis of CRC cells. Moreover, knockdown of GGN inhibited the expression of p-Akt in CRC cells. Taken together, these results showed that knockdown of GGN inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of CRC cells through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Our findings revealed for the first time a potential oncogenic role for GGN in CRC progress. This finding may provide a unique perspective on how a germ cell-specific gene might serve as a biomarker, or even as a therapeutic target, for CRC.