Ring finger protein 126: a potential biomarker for colorectal cancer

Abstract

Background. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer of the digestive system. However, effective therapeutic targets against CRC have not been found yet. Further, the relationship between the expression of ring finger protein 126 (RNF126) and CRC is not clear. Material and Methods. The expression level of RNF126 in CRC tissues and cell lines was detected by immunohistochemical staining and western blot. Subsequently, endogenous RNF126 expression was inhibited in a CRC cell line using a short hairpin RNA. Next, the effect of RNF126 on the properties of CRC cells was studied through different experimental methods. Results. We found that the RNF126 protein was mainly localized in the cytoplasm. High RNF126 expression was observed to be an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in CRC patients. In vitro studies showed that RNF126 was able to promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of CRC cells. Conclusion. RNF126 acts as an oncogene during CRC development, and may serve as a novel target for CRC treatment.