EHF promotes colorectal carcinoma progression by activating TGF-β1 transcription and canonical TGF-β signalling.

: ETS homologous factor (EHF) plays a critical function in epithelial cell differentiation and proliferation. However, the roles of EHF in cancer remain largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the expression levels, precise function and mechanism of EHF in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). We observed significantly elevating of EHF expression in CRC cell lines and tissues. EHF overexpression positively correlated with poor differentiation, advanced T stage and shorter overall survival of CRC patients. Function experiments revealed the EHF overexpressing promoted CRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, EHF could directly upregulate transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF-β1) expression at the transcription level, thereby activating canonical TGF-β signaling. Our findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of EHF in the tumorigenesis, invasion and metastasis of CRC, which may help to provide new therapeutic targets for CRC intervention.