SHCBP1 Is Upregulated in Colon Adenocarcinoma and Promotes Tumor Cell Proliferation and Growth

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is a common malignancy with substantial morbidity and mortality, and the identification of new therapeutic targets remains essential for improving patient outcomes. In this study, we investigated SHC SH2-domain binding protein 1 (SHCBP1) in COAD through two complementary components with distinct evidentiary scopes. The first component comprised expression profiling, prognostic and methylation analyzes, bioinformatic characterization, and functional validation in vitro and in vivo. The second component comprised exploratory computational analyses, including predicted interaction network analysis and structure-based virtual screening. Public databases were used to analyze SHCBP1 expression, prognosis, and promoter methylation status. Co-expression and functional enrichment analyses were performed to explore the biological context of SHCBP1. In vitro and in vivo experiments were then conducted to evaluate the effects of SHCBP1 knockdown on tumor growth. SHCBP1 was significantly upregulated in COAD and was associated with poor patient prognosis. Promoter hypomethylation may contribute to its increased expression. Bioinformatic analyses suggested that SHCBP1 is associated with DNA replication and cell-cycle-related pathways. Experimental studies demonstrated that SHCBP1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation and tumor growth. In the exploratory computational component, predicted interaction network analysis and virtual screening prioritized several in silico candidate interactions and two compounds with favorable predicted binding scores. These computational findings require independent biochemical and cellular validation. Overall, our findings suggest that SHCBP1 may represent a candidate biomarker associated with COAD proliferation and unfavorable prognosis, as well as a putative molecular target that warrants further validation.