COL11A1 is the Key Target Gene of MIST1 on Tumor Progression of Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract Background: MIST1, a component of BHLH transcription factors, has been documented to be an important factor in tumor progression of pancreatic cancer, but the molecular mechanism is still unknown.Methods: COL11A1 was screened as a candidate key target gene of MIST1 in pancreatic cancer by ChIP -seq assay and verified by RT-PCR and Western Blotting on MIST1-overexpression pancreatic cancer cells. ChIP and dual-luciferase assays were performed to study the binding domain of MIST1 and COL11A1. Transwell invasion, wound healing, MTT, colony formation assays and animal experiments were performed to investigate the roles of COL11A1 expression on pancreatic cancer cells. Clinical data and TCGA datasets were used to evaluate the role of COL11A1 expression on prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer.Results: MIST1 could bind to the promoter of COL11A1 as a negative transcription factor in pancreatic cancer. Overexpression of COL11A1 promotes pancreatic cancer cell growth, migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Expression of COL11A1 was upregulated in pancreatic cancer and positively correlated with a worse prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer. Conclusions: These results demonstrated COL11A1 as a carcinogen in pancreatic cancer, and it acts as the key target gene of MIST1 on tumor progression of pancreatic cancer. COL11A1 can act as a potential therapeutic target of pancreatic cancer which is superior to MIST1.