SPOCK1 is up-regulated and promotes tumor growth via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in colorectal cancer

SPOCK1 encodes a Ca2+-binding matricellular glycoprotein which plays an oncogenic role in cancer cells. However, the role of SPOCK1 in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been determined. Here, SPOCK1 was found higher expressed in CRC tissues than that of adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, up-regulated expression of SPOCK1 in CRC patients was associated with tumor size and TNM stage. In addition, we observed that the depletion of SPOCK1 inhibited proliferation in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo and promoted apoptosis in cell culture. Our data suggest that inactivation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was involved in down-regulation of SPOCK1-mediated suppression of tumor cell proliferation. These results suggest that SPOCK1 expression is correlated with malignant features of CRC and may serve as potential therapeutic and preventive strategies for CRC. •SPOCK1 expression is significantly up-regulated in CRC tissues and associated with tumor size and TMN stage.•Down-regulation of SPOCK1 suppresses CRC cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo.•SPOCK1 stimulates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to inhibit cell apoptosis and promote tumor growth.