Identification of SMARCA1 as a key regulator for Colorectal Cancer

Emerging evidence indicates that aberrations in the writing, reading, or erasure of chromatin modification codes are pivotal events in various human cancers. In this study, we conducted a systematic investigation of histone modification recognition proteins in a pair of colorectal cancer cell lines, SW480 and SW620. Using chromatin fractionation combined with data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS), we developed a robust method to identify changes in histone modification recognition proteins during cancer progression. Our analysis revealed 22 proteins that were significantly upregulated and 22 proteins that were significantly downregulated in SW620 cells compared to SW480 cells. Notably, SMARCA1, a member of the ISWI family belonging to ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes, was downregulated in SW620 cells compared to SW480 cells. Its high expression was strongly correlated with poor patient prognosis, aligning with the proposed role of SMARCA1 in promoting colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis. Furthermore, reduced SMARCA1 expression altered the levels of metastasis-related matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in these cells. In conclusion, by systematically profiling histone modification recognition proteins in a matched pair of primary and metastatic CRC cell lines, we identified SMARCA1 as a potential driver of CRC metastasis and a promising therapeutic target for CRC patients.