CK2α Overexpression in Colorectal Cancer: Evidence for Sex- and Age-Linked Differences

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality with known sex-specific disparities.
• Previous research identified casein kinase 2 alpha (CK2α) as a factor impairing DNA mismatch repair (MMR) and increasing tumor mutational burden.
• This study focuses on investigating sex-specific differences in CK2α protein expression within CRC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex-specific differences in CK2α protein expression in colorectal cancer (CRC).
• To explore the correlation between CK2α expression, age, and sex in CRC patients.
• To identify potential regulatory mechanisms and signaling pathways influenced by CK2α in CRC.

Main Methods:

• Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of CK2α protein levels in 161 CRC tumors and adjacent normal tissues.
• Multi-cohort meta-analysis of proteomic and clinical data to validate findings.
• Assessment of correlations between CK2α expression, age, sex, and relevant signaling pathways.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher CK2α protein expression was observed in female CRC patients compared to male patients, confirmed across independent cohorts.
• CK2α expression positively correlated with age in female CRC patients, but not in male patients.
• CK2α levels were linked to proteins involved in estrogen receptor signaling and aging, including DDX5, HDAC1, PCNA, PHB2, NHP2, and MAP2K3.

Conclusions:

• CK2α is significantly overexpressed in female CRC tumor tissue, with a notable age-related correlation.
• Findings suggest a sex- and age-specific regulatory mechanism in CRC, potentially involving estrogen signaling or menopause.
• The identified dimorphisms highlight the necessity for developing sex-specific strategies for CRC biomarker discovery and therapeutic interventions.