COUP-TFII suppresses colorectal carcinoma resistance to doxorubicin involving inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II (COUP-TFII) promotes progression of a variety of tumors. The study was designed to explore the role of COUP-TFII in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) resistance to doxorubicin. The sensitivity of CRC cell lines to doxorubicin was calculated by different proliferation rate measured with cell count kit-8 and EdU (5-Ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine) assay. The expression of COUP-TFII, Vimentin and E-cadherin were verified using western blot. After doxorubicin administration, CRC cell lines presented apparently down-regulated COUP-TFII, E-cadherin expression and increased Vimentin expression. Besides, COUP-TFII knock-down resulted in significantly increased sensitivity to doxorubicin in all of CRC cell lines, but Twist knock-down presented totally reversed results. Furthermore, COUP-TFII knock-down promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition in (EMT) CRC cell lines. After doxorubicin treatment, immediately decreased COUP-TFII expression significantly promotes CRC cells survival outcomes by suppressing EMT.