T-cell factor-4 frameshift mutations occur frequently in human microsatellite instability-high colorectal carcinomas but do not contribute to carcinogenesis.
T-cell factor-4 (TCF4) is a member of the TCF/LEF (lymphoid enhancer factor) family of transcription factors, and dysregulation of β-catenin is decisive for the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer.
A further analysis revealed gender-specific effects: the TCF7L2_rs7903146_T allele was associated with an increased risk of CRC in women (P(trend) = 0.003) but not in men (P(interaction) = 0.06); the LTA_rs1041981_A allele was associated with a decreased risk for CRC in women (P(trend) = 0.02), with an opposite effect in men (P(trend) = 0.05; P(interaction) = 0.002); the CDKAL1_rs7754840_C allele was associated with a decreased risk for CRC in men (P(trend) = 0.03), with no effect in women (P(interaction) = 0.03).
hTERT may promote CRC by recruiting β-catenin/TCF-4 complex to transactivate CCL2 expression, which is a novel crosstalk mechanism likely involved in the pathogenesis of CRC.
In conclusion, we have identified novel variants of VTI1A-TCF7L2 fusion transcripts, including a novel fusion partner gene, RP11-57H14.3, and demonstrated detectable levels in a large fraction of CRC samples, as well as in normal colonic mucosa and other tissue types.
In summary, the marginal association of the TCF7L2 SNP with CRC might be due to chance, but warrants further laboratory and epidemiological investigation.
In the present study, we investigated whether CRNDE was involved in the development of colorectal cancer via the binding of microRNA (miR)-217 with transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) to enhance the Wnt signaling pathway.