We finally established a five-gene signature (kinesin family member 15, N-acetyltransferase 2, glutathione peroxidase 3, secretogranin II, and chloride channel accessory 1) with prognostic value in CRC by step multivariate Cox regression analysis.
The upregulation of karyopherin α 2 (KPNA2) and chromosome segregation 1‑like (CSE1L) in colorectal carcinoma, in addition to downregulation of chloride channel accessory 1 (CLCA1), fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1), sodium channel, voltage gated, type VII α subunit (SCN7A) and solute carrier family 26 (anion exchanger), member 3 (SLC26A3) was confirmed.
In conclusion, CLCA1 may contribute to promoting spontaneous differentiation and reducing proliferation of Caco-2 cells and may be a target of NaBT-induced inhibition of proliferation and therefore a potential diagnostic marker for CRC prognosis.
Our results suggest that CLCA1 could specify a new tumor suppressor and that, as in breast cancer, CLCA2 may function as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer.