RBM39 Functions as a Potential Oncogene Through the NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most frequently diagnosed cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Recently, RNA-binding protein 39(RBM39), a critical factor in tumor-targeted mRNA and protein expression, has played a vital role in tumorigenesis and has broad development prospects in clinical treatment and drug research. However, the functional roles of RBM39 in the progression of CRC remain largely unexplored. This study found that RBM39 is notably overexpressed at both the mRNA and protein levels in CRC tissues compared with normal adjacent tissues. RBM39 was identified as a potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer. Elevated RBM39 mRNA levels in CRC patients indicated worse survival probabilities. We show that RBM39 enhances the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of CRC cells. Furthermore, we have made an innovative discovery that increased RBM39 inhibits apoptosis in CRC cells. Mechanistically, RNA-seq analysis indicated that RBM39 activates the NF-κB pathway, which plays a pivotal role in driving the malignant biological behaviors of colorectal cancer. Notably, these findings represent a novel contribution to our understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of CRC, as they have not been previously documented in the literature. In the <i>in vivo</i> nude mouse xenograft model, our study demonstrates that the targeted knockdown of RBM39 markedly suppresses tumor formation, highlighting a novel therapeutic strategy for combating colorectal cancer. In conclusion, RBM39 emerges as a promising candidate for clinical diagnosis and targeted treatment of colorectal cancer, with implications for future research in tumor biology and therapeutic strategies.