PIK3CD induces cell growth and invasion by activating AKT/GSK‐3β/β‐catenin signaling in colorectal cancer

The catalytic subunit p110δ of phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) encoded by PIK3CD has been implicated in some human solid tumors. However, its roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain largely unknown. Here we found that PIK3CD was overexpressed in colon cancer tissues and CRC cell lines and was an independent predictor for overall survival (OS) of patients with colon cancer. The ectopic overexpression of PIK3CD significantly promoted CRC cell growth, migration and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. In contrast, inhibition of PIK3CD by specific small‐interfering RNA or idelalisib dramatically suppressed CRC cell growth, migration and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, PIK3CD overexpression increased AKT activity, nuclear translocation of β‐catenin and T‐cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) transcriptional activity and decreased glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK‐3β) activity, whereas PIK3CD inhibition exhibited the opposite effects. Furthermore, PIK3CD‐mediated cell growth, migration and invasion were reversed by blockade of AKT signaling or depletion of β‐catenin. In addition, PIK3CD expression in colon cancer tissues positively correlated with β‐catenin abnormal expression, which was an independent predictor for OS of colon cancer patients. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that PIK3CD is an independent prognostic factor in CRC and that PIK3CD induces CRC cell growth, migration and invasion by activating AKT/GSK‐3β/β‐catenin signaling, suggesting that PIK3CD might be a novel prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for CRC. PIK3CD is significantly overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) and can induce CRC cell growth and invasion. PIK3CD exerts its functions through activating AKT/GSK‐3β/β‐catenin signaling. PIK3CD might be a novel independent prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for CRC.