Abstract
Colorectal carcinoma is the third most common type of cancer. Although the role of matricellular proteins and their association with tumor progression is well documented, limited data are available concerning their involvement in colorectal cancer. The current study investigated the expression pattern of matricellular proteins SPARC and CYR61 with epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins in human CRC tissues and unleashed their association with colorectal cancer progression. The expression of these proteins was associated with advancement in tumor staging, nodal metastasis, and vascular invasion. Elevated CYR61 protein levels were also consistent with higher mesenchymal markers ZEB1 and Vimentin in collected biopsies and CRC cells. Moreover, expression of CYR61 promoted CRC cell migration, invasion, proliferation, and apoptosis. Our findings conclusively revealed the significant involvement of CYR61 in CRC progression through activating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. This discovery holds great promise for advancing therapeutic approaches in the treatment of CRC.