DKC1 enhances angiogenesis by promoting HIF-1α transcription and facilitates metastasis in colorectal cancer

Background Dyskeratosis congenita 1 (DKC1) is dysregulated in several cancers. However, the expression and function of DKC1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) is rarely reported. Methods Tissue microarrays (TAMs) including 411 cases of CRC tissues and corresponding paracancerous tissues were used to examine the DKC1 expression. The correlations between the DKC1 expression and clinicopathological or survival characters were further analysed. The functions and molecular mechanism of DKC1 in CRC were investigated through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. Results The result showed that DKC1 expression was increased in CRC tissues. Increased DKC1 expression was associated with high grade of TNM stage, additional lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis of patients with CRC. Multivariate COX analysis indicated that DKC1 can act as an independent prognostic factor for patients with CRC. DKC1 also facilitated the CRC angiogenesis and metastasis by increasing HIF-1 alpha and VEGF expression levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that DKC1 facilitated HIF-1 alpha expression by regulating HIF-1 alpha promoter activity. Conclusion DKC1 appears to regulate CRC angiogenesis and metastasis through directly activating HIF-1 alpha transcription. DKC1 can serve as an accurate indicator in predicting the prognosis of patients with CRC and act as a potential therapeutic target for CRC.