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Updated: Jul 5, 2025

Discovery of Driver Genes in Colorectal HT29-derived Cancer Stem-Like Tumorspheres
Published on: July 22, 2020
USP36 plays an oncogenic role in colorectal cancer cells
Lixiong Luo1, Yijiang Li2, Rongjie Huang3
1Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital of Fujian Province and Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Zhangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have emerged as crucial contributors to tumor relapse and chemoresistance, making them promising targets for treating cancers like colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mechanisms governing CSC maintenance in CRC remain poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated the potential role of ubiquitin-specific protease 36 (USP36) in CRC. Our bioinformatic analysis revealed a significant upregulation of USP36 expression in CRC, and high USP36 levels were associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. Furthermore, we observed an increase in USP36 expression in CRC cell lines. Knockdown of USP36 resulted in reduced viability, cell cycle arrest, increased apoptosis, and impaired migration and invasion in CRC cells. Additionally, the colony formation and sphere formation ability, as well as the expression of stem cell markers and pluripotent transcription factors, were substantially reduced in USP36-deficient CRC cells. These findings emphasize the role of USP36 as an oncogene in CRC, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for the treatment of CRC.
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