Transcriptomic and Functional Validation Reveals PAQR3/P6-55 as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is one of the leading malignant tumors worldwide, and the membrane protein PAQR3 has been identified as a tumor suppressor in multiple cancers. Notably, the peptide synthesized from 6 to 55 amino acids at the N-terminal of PAQR3 (P6-55) has been shown to effectively inhibit the growth of gastric cancer cells. This study aims to elucidate the mechanism of PAQR3 and explore its therapeutic potential in colon cancer. CCK8 cell viability assays, colony formation assays, and transwell migration assays were employed to systematically assess the inhibitory effects of PAQR3 on the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells. Furthermore, we confirmed that P6-55 exhibits functional similarities to PAQR3, effectively inhibiting the growth of colon cancer in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing revealed that PAQR3 suppresses tumor growth via the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, providing a strong theoretical foundation for therapeutic strategies targeting PAQR3/P6-55. In conclusion, our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of PAQR3/P6-55 as novel colon cancer inhibitors.