Cullin1 overexpression is associated with colorectal cancer progression and poor prognosis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Cullin1 (CUL1), a key element of the Skp1-Cullin1-Rbx1-F-box protein ubiquitin E3 ligase complex, is implicated in tumorigenesis. Herein, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern and clinical significance of CUL1 in CRC. Publicly available databases and platforms (TNMplot, UALCAN, the Human Protein Atlas, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis) were used to explore the mRNA and protein expression levels of CUL1 and to evaluate its prognostic significance. TNMplot and UALCAN confirmed CUL1 mRNA overexpression in tumor and metastatic tissues of colon cancer relative to normal tissues. Results retrieved from different online datasets indicated that the elevated CUL1 expression correlated with advanced disease stages and histological subtypes. In rectal cancer patients, CUL1 overexpression was associated with a poorer survival rate but with improved chemotherapy response. Furthermore, we validated the expression of CUL1 in tissue samples from 60 patients (33 males and 27 females) diagnosed with non-specific colitis (n = 10), colorectal adenomas (n = 10), and colorectal adenocarcinomas (n = 40). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining revealed that CUL1 expression was significantly higher in malignant cases compared to benign lesions (colitis and adenomas). In conclusion, CUL1 was significantly overexpressed in CRC, correlating with disease progression, treatment response, and poor prognosis. Overall, these findings suggest CUL1 as a prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for patients with CRC.