DRO1 sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to receptor-mediated apoptosis.

The molecule DRO1 (down‑regulated by oncogenes 1) is a potential tumor suppressor protein that is frequently down‑regulated in primary colorectal cancers and colorectal cancer cell lines. Although the mechanism of DRO1 action has yet to be elucidated, previous data have suggested that DRO1 interferes with tumor growth by sensitizing cells to apoptosis. The effect of DRO1 expression on receptor-, mitochondrial- and endoplasmic reticulum‑mediated apoptosis in colorectal cancer cell lines was analyzed in this study, following the generation of DLD1/DRO1 and HCT116/DRO1 cell lines. Cells were cultured, and then analyzed using flow cytometry. DRO1 was found to sensitize cells to receptor-mediated apoptosis by promoting the activation of components of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC).