The Role of APOA1-AS in Colorectal Cancer: Investigating Its Association with Malignant Biological Behaviors.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor associated with high morbidity and mortality. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in cancer development and progression. This study aimed to explore the role of lncRNA APOA1-AS in colorectal cancer and elucidate its underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Clinical samples were collected, and high-throughput sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs in colorectal cancer. Among these, the key lncRNA APOA1-AS was selected for further investigation. The expression of APOA1-AS in colorectal cancer tissues and cells was evaluated. The effects of APOA1-AS on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were assessed through knockdown and overexpression of APOA1-AS in SW620 and RKO cells. Additionally, the relationship between APOA1-AS and the malignant biological behaviors of colorectal cancer cells was also investigated. Furthermore, the involvement of APOA1-AS in glucose metabolism reprogramming and the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway was analyzed.

Results: A total of 2,985 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified in colorectal cancer, including APOA1-AS, which showed the most significant upregulation. APOA1-AS expression was significantly higher in colorectal cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. Overexpression of APOA1-AS promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while inhibiting apoptosis in SW620 and RKO cells. Furthermore, APOA1-AS was found to regulate glucose metabolism reprogramming, enhance tumor malignant biological behaviors and facilitate tumor cell drug resistance through the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that APOA1-AS is a potential key regulator in colorectal cancer development and progression. It functions via glucose metabolism reprogramming and the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, offering a novel therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.