TRIM25 regulates oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer by promoting EZH2 stability

Cell Death Dis. 2021 May 8;12(5):463. doi: 10.1038/s41419-021-03734-4.

Abstract

Resistance to chemotherapy remains the major cause of treatment failure in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we identified TRIM25 as an epigenetic regulator of oxaliplatin (OXA) resistance in CRC. The level of TRIM25 in OXA-resistant patients who experienced recurrence during the follow-up period was significantly higher than in those who had no recurrence. Patients with high expression of TRIM25 had a significantly higher recurrence rate and worse disease-free survival than those with low TRIM25 expression. Downregulation of TRIM25 dramatically inhibited, while overexpression of TRIM25 increased, CRC cell survival after OXA treatment. In addition, TRIM25 promoted the stem cell properties of CRC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, we demonstrated that TRIM25 inhibited the binding of E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF6 to EZH2, thus stabilizing and upregulating EZH2, and promoting OXA resistance. Our study contributes to a better understanding of OXA resistance and indicates that inhibitors against TRIM25 might be an excellent strategy for CRC management in clinical practice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Oxaliplatin / pharmacology
  • Oxaliplatin / therapeutic use*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins
  • Oxaliplatin
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • TRIM25 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases