Bioinformatic Analyses and Experimental Verification Reveal that High FSTL3 Expression Promotes EMT via Fibronectin-1/α5β1 Interaction in Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a typical cancer prevalent worldwide. Despite the conventional treatments, CRC has a poor prognosis due to relapse and metastasis. Moreover, there is a dearth of sensitive biomarkers for predicting prognosis in CRC. <b>Methods:</b> This study used a bioinformatics approach combining validation experiments to examine the value of follistatin-like 3 (<i>FSTL3</i>) as a prognostic predictor and therapeutic target in CRC. <b>Results:</b> <i>F</i>STL3 was remarkably upregulated in the CRC samples. FSTL3 overexpression was significantly associated with a poor prognosis. FSTL3 was found to activate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition by promoting the binding of FN1 to α5β1. <i>FSTL3</i> expression was also positively correlated with the abundance of the potent immunosuppressors, M2 macrophages. <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>FSTL3</i> overexpression affects CRC prognosis and thus, <i>FSTL3</i> can be a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target with potential applications in CRC.