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.
Exposure to radiation upregulated KPNA2 expression in human colorectal cancer HT29 and HCT116 cells and breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells together with the increased expression of DNA repair protein BRCA1.
KPNA2 might play an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis and functions as a novel prognostic indicator and a potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.
The overall survival rate in patients with high KPNA2 expression was higher than that in patients with low KPNA2 expression in CRC (p < 0.001), even in patients with stage II CRC (p = 0.001).
Furthermore, the subgroup analysis revealed that KPNA2 overexpression was associated with poor OS in East-Asian patients and European patients, as well as patients with gastric and colorectal cancer.