Sorcin Enhances Metastasis and Promotes Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition of Colorectal Cancer

Sorcin, a soluble resistance-related calcium-binding protein, belongs to the small penta-EF-hand family. Recent study reported that upregulation of sorcin correlated with metastasis and poor prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). In the present study, we explored the regulatory role of sorcin in CRC metastasis. To investigate the role of sorcin in CRC metastasis, sorcin overexpressed with empty vector as control in CRC cell line (HCT116). The effect of sorcin overexpression on cell migration and invasion was evaluated via wound healing and transwell assay, respectively. Sorcin-induced changes in EMT process were evaluated by estern blot. Furthermore, the role of PI3K/Akt in the regulatory effect of sorcin on cell migration and invasion, and EMT process was explored by suppressing Akt activity in sorcin-overexpressed HCT116 cells. Sorcin overexpression in HCT116 cells resulted in a significant increase in cell migration and invasion. Sorcin overexpression also markedly promoted the EMT process. More importantly, our results revealed that sorcin stimulated EMT process through activating PI3K/Akt signaling. In summary, this study indicated that the promoting effect of sorcin on CRC metastasis was, at least in part, through PI3K/Akt signaling. The findings in this study highlight the effectiveness and therapeutic potential to utilize sorcin-targeted strategies in the treatment of CRC.