ENKUR Is Involved in the Regulation of Cellular Biology in Colorectal Cancer Cells via PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide. ENKUR is a transient receptor potential canonical–binding protein that acts as a potential regulator or effector of transient receptor potential canonical channels. It also directly interacts with the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. However, the role of ENKUR in colorectal cancer remains unclear. In the present study, the expression profiles of ENKUR in the The Cancer Genome Atlas and ONCOMINE databases were analyzed. Significant downregulation of ENKUR was observed in clinical tumor samples of various cancer types, including colorectal cancer. Decreased ENKUR messenger RNA expression and ENKUR protein level were detected in 6 human colorectal cancer cell lines. Silencing of ENKUR in colorectal cancer cells led to enhanced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while the opposite effects were achieved in ENKUR-overexpressing cells. Furthermore, ENKUR-underexpressing cells exhibited increased activity of phosphoinositide 3-kinase /Akt signaling pathway. Downregulation of the epithelial marker, E-cadherin, and upregulation of the mesenchymal markers, vimentin and N-cadherin, were detected in ENKUR-underexpressing cells, suggesting the induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that ENKUR may be responsible for alterations in the proliferative, migratory, and invasive potential of colorectal cancer cells through possible involvement in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase /Akt signaling pathway.