The Function and Clinical Significance of TRPV2 in Human Colon Cancer

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2) is a calcium channel involved in signaling pathways that control cell proliferation, the cell cycle, and apoptosis. The relationship between TRPV2 expression and prognosis has been reported in cancers of various organs. However, the functions and clinical significance of TRPV2 in colon cancer (CC) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of TRPV2 in CC.

After small interfering RNA-induced TRPV2 knockdown in CC cells, we examined the effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and wound-healing. Gene expression profiles of CC cells were examined using microarray analysis. Immunohistochemistry of TRPV2 expression was performed on samples from 200 patients who underwent radical colectomy. The patients were divided into two groups according to TRPV2 expression, and their clinicopathologic background and prognosis were analyzed.

The study showed that TRPV2-depleted CC cells reduced cell proliferation and migration, together with the induction of apoptosis. Based on the cell cycle assay, the transition from the G1 to the S phase was suppressed in the cell cycle. The microarray analysis showed that TRPV2 was involved in PI3K/AKT-, ERK/MAPK-, and role of tissue factor in cancer-signaling pathways. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that high TRPV2 expression was an independent poor prognostic factor (p = 0.016; hazard ratio, 2.045).

The study findings suggested that TRPV2 controls the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of CC cells. Furthermore, the study identified high TRPV2 expression as a poor prognostic factor for patients with CC.