H2AC14 is a novel and reliable prognostic marker for CRC

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents one of the most prevalent malignancies within the gastrointestinal tract, with both its incidence and mortality rates exhibiting a steady rise in recent years. This trend underscores the critical need for identifying reliable biomarkers to predict disease progression, guide treatment strategies, and improve prognostic outcomes. The histone family, comprising essential proteins that bind to DNA, plays a pivotal role in transcriptional regulation and gene expression. Among these, Histone Cluster 2 H2A Family Member C14 (H2AC14) belongs to the histone H2A family. Despite its potential significance, no studies have yet explored the role of H2AC14 in CRC. To address this gap, we employed bioinformatics analysis to investigate the potential involvement of H2AC14 in CRC treatment and prognosis. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas-Colon Adenocarcinoma database revealed that H2AC14 is significantly overexpressed in CRC, with its expression levels correlating with TNM staging, prognosis, and overall survival. However, the mechanistic role of H2AC14 CRC remains unexplored. To validate its functional relevance, we utilized CRC cell lines (LOVO, HT29, HCT116, and SW480) alongside NCM460 normal colon cells. Our findings demonstrated that H2AC14 is highly expressed in CRC. Silencing of the H2AC14 gene resulted in reduced migration speed of CRC and downregulation of genes associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, suggesting that H2AC14 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, thereby facilitating tumor metastasis. Furthermore, area under curve analysis indicated that H2AC14 possesses diagnostic predictive value for CRC. In summary, H2AC14 emerges as a potential biomarker for CRC, warranting further clinical investigation to elucidate its therapeutic and prognostic implications.