The feedback loop of ANKHD1/lncRNA MALAT1/YAP1 strengthens the radioresistance of CRC by activating YAP1/AKT signaling

Innate radioresistance substantially limits the effectiveness of radiotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC); thus, a strategy to enhance the radiosensitivity of CRC is urgently needed. Herein, we reported that ankyrin repeat and KH domain containing 1 (ANKHD1) serves as a key regulator of radioresistance in CRC. ANKHD1 was highly expressed in CRC tissues and was highly correlated with Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) in CRC. Our results first revealed that ANKHD1 knockdown could increase the radiosensitivity of CRC by regulating DNA-damage repair, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the interactive regulation between ANKHD1 or YAP1 and lncRNA MALAT1 was revealed by RIP and RNA pull-down assays. Moreover, our results also demonstrated that MALAT1 silencing can radiosensitize CRC cells to IR through YAP1/AKT axis, similar to ANKHD1 silencing. Taken together, we report a feedback loop of ANKHD1/MALAT1/YAP1 that synergistically promotes the transcriptional coactivation of YAP1 and in turn enhances the radioresistance of CRC by regulating DNA-damage repair, probably via the YAP1/AKT axis. Our results suggested that targeting the YAP1/AKT axis downstream of ANKHD1/MALAT1/YAP1 may enhance the radiosensitivity of CRC.