DBC1 regulates Wnt/β-catenin-mediated expression of MACC1, a key regulator of cancer progression, in colon cancer

Metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) has been reported to be overexpressed in multiple cancers and promote proliferation, metastasis, cancer stem cell-like properties, and drug resistance of cancer cells. Despite its significance and the considerable knowledge accumulated on the function of MACC1 in various types of human malignancies, regulatory mechanisms underlying MACC1 expression remain unclear. Here we report that MACC1 is a direct target of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in colon cancer cells and that DBC1 functions as a coactivator for Wnt-mediated MACC1 expression by promoting the activity of a LEF1/β-catenin-dependent enhancer located in intron 1 of MACC1 gene. DBC1 is required for LEF1/β-catenin complex formation on the MACC1 enhancer and for long-distance enhancer-promoter interaction of the MACC1 locus. MACC1 expression was increased in colonosphere cells compared to adherent colon cancer cells, and DBC1 overexpression further increased MACC1 expression in colonospheres and promoted sphere-forming abilities of colon cancer cells and drug resistance of colonospheres. Importantly, expressions of MACC1 and DBC1 are positively correlated with each other, upregulated in high-risk groups of colorectal cancer patients, and associated with poor survival. Our results establish MACC1 as a transcriptional target of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and suggest that DBC1 plays a key role in colorectal cancer progression through Wnt/β-catenin-MACC1 signaling axis.