Reduced FBXW7 expression in pancreatic cancer correlates with poor prognosis and chemotherapeutic resistance via accumulation of MCL1

PBRM1 loss is associated with increased sensitivity to MCL1 and CDK9 inhibition in clear cell renal cancer

MCL1 is a member of the BCL2 family of apoptosis regulators, which play a critical role in promoting cancer survival and drug resistance. We previously described PRT1419, a potent, MCL1 inhibitor with anti-tumor efficacy in various solid and hematologic malignancies. To identify novel biomarkers that predict sensitivity to MCL1 inhibition, we conducted a gene essentiality analysis using gene dependency data generated from CRISPR/Cas9 cell viability screens. We observed that clear cell renal cancer (ccRCC) cell lines with damaging PBRM1 mutations displayed a strong dependency on MCL1. PBRM1 (BAF180), is a chromatin-targeting subunit of mammalian pBAF complexes. PBRM1 is frequently altered in various cancers particularly ccRCC with ~40% of tumors harboring damaging PBRM1 alterations. We observed potent inhibition of tumor growth and induction of apoptosis by PRT1419 in various preclinical models of PBRM1-mutant ccRCC but not PBRM1-WT. Depletion of PBRM1 in PBRM1-WT ccRCC cell lines induced sensitivity to PRT1419. Mechanistically, PBRM1 depletion coincided with increased expression of pro-apoptotic factors, priming cells for caspase-mediated apoptosis following MCL1 inhibition. Increased MCL1 activity has been described as a resistance mechanism to Sunitinib and Everolimus, two approved agents for ccRCC. PRT1419 synergized with both agents to potently inhibit tumor growth in PBRM1-loss ccRCC. PRT2527, a potent CDK9 inhibitor which depletes MCL1, was similarly efficacious in monotherapy and in combination with Sunitinib in PBRM1-loss cells. Taken together, these findings suggest PBRM1 loss is associated with MCL1i sensitivity in ccRCC and provide rationale for the evaluation of PRT1419 and PRT2527 for the treatment for PBRM1-deficient ccRCC.

FBXW7 and human tumors: mechanisms of drug resistance and potential therapeutic strategies

Drug therapy, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and endocrine therapy, stands as the foremost therapeutic approach for contemporary human malignancies. However, increasing drug resistance during antineoplastic therapy has become a substantial barrier to favorable outcomes in cancer patients. To enhance the effectiveness of different cancer therapies, an in-depth understanding of the unique mechanisms underlying tumor drug resistance and the subsequent surmounting of antitumor drug resistance is required. Recently, F-box and WD Repeat Domain-containing-7 (FBXW7), a recognized tumor suppressor, has been found to be highly associated with tumor therapy resistance. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the underlying mechanisms through which FBXW7 facilitates the development of drug resistance in cancer. Additionally, this review elucidates the role of FBXW7 in therapeutic resistance of various types of human tumors. The strategies and challenges implicated in overcoming tumor therapy resistance by targeting FBXW7 are also discussed.

FBXW7 affects autophagy through MCL1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Oral cancer is associated with high risk of morbidity and mortality. However, effective treatment for oral cancer is urgently required in clinics. In this study, we aimed to determine whether F-box/WD repeat-containing protein 7 (FBXW7), an essential tumor suppressor gene, can regulate autophagy and improve the prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

METHODS

mRNA levels of FBXW7 and myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1) in OSCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were measured by qRT-PCR. FBXW7 and MCL-1 were overexpressed in OSCC cell line using lentivirus containing FBXW7 and MCL-1, respectively. Protein expression was determined by Western blot.

RESULTS

The mRNA and protein levels of FBXW7 were decreased in patients with OSCC, whereas the mRNA and protein levels of MCL-1 were increased. Moreover, the mRNA coding for autophagy proteins was reduced in patients with OSCC. Additionally, it was found that overexpression of FBXW7 significantly reduced MCL-1 expression and upregulated autophagy-related proteins, including Beclin1, autophagy related 7, and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that FBXW7 affects autophagy through MCL1 in OSCC.

High RRN3 expression is associated with malignant characteristics and poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer has an extremely poor prognosis and is one of the most chemoresistant cancers. Targeting cancer cell transcriptional complexes may enhance chemotherapy effectiveness. RNA-polymerase I (Pol-I)-mediated transcription is an essential initial step for ribosome biogenesis and is related to cancer cell proliferation. RRN3 is a Pol-I-specific transcription initiation factor. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the function and clinical significance of RRN3 in pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

We performed immunohistochemical staining to detect RRN3 protein expression in 96 pancreatic cancer tissues and analyzed the relationship between RRN3 protein expression, clinicopathological factors, and cancer patient prognosis. Moreover, we evaluated RRN3 function in vitro and in vivo using proliferation, invasion, and chemosensitivity assays in PANC-1 and SW1990 cell lines, with/without depleting RRN3 expression.

RESULTS

RRN3 was mainly expressed in cancer cell nuclei. High levels of RRN3 expression were associated with Ki-67 expression and shorter overall survival. Additionally, proliferation and invasion ability were decreased when RRN3 was silenced with siRNA, compared to non-targeting siRNA-transfected cells. Chemosensitivity analysis showed that inhibition of RRN3 enhanced the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cell lines to gemcitabine and paclitaxel. RRN3 siRNA-transfected PANC-1 tumors showed significantly reduced tumor volumes and high gemcitabine sensitivity compared to the control in a mouse xenograft model.

CONCLUSION

High levels of RRN3 expression are associated with poor prognosis and cancer malignancy, such as proliferation, invasion ability, and chemosensitivity in pancreatic cancer. RRN3 targeting with anticancer drugs may be a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome refractory pancreatic cancer.

Molecular mechanism of FBXW7-mediated ubiquitination modification in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo

OBJECTIVES

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a type of keratinizing squamous cell malignancy. Ubiquitination, a common protein posttranslational modification, participates in cancer development. This study sought to investigate the mechanism of F-box and WD repeat domain containing 7 (FBXW7) in NPC cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro.

METHODS

FBXW7, Homeobox A10 (HOXA10), and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) expression levels in NPC tissues and cells were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. The binding of FBXW7 to HOXA10 and HOXA10 ubiquitination level were detected via co-immunoprecipitation and ubiquitination assay. Cells were treated with MG132 (the proteasome inhibitor), followed by the determination of HOXA10 ubiquitination and protein levels. The binding of HOXA10 to BMP2 was testified via dual-luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Collaborative experiments were performed to confirm the role of HOXA10 or BMP2 in FBXW7-mediated NPC cell proliferation. Xenograft tumor assay was performed to confirm the role of FBXW7/HOXA10/BMP2 in vivo.

RESULTS

FBXW7 was under-expressed, while HOXA10 and BMP2 were up-expressed in NPC tissues and cells. FBXW7 overexpression restricted NPC cell proliferation. Mechanically, FBXW7 bound to HOXA10 to promote ubiquitination-based degradation of HOXA10 and further reduced the binding of HOXA10 to the BMP2 promoter and inhibited BMP2 transcription. Overexpression of HOXA10 or BMP2 attenuated the role of FBXW7 overexpression in inhibiting NPC cell proliferation. FBXW7 overexpression reduced Ki67 positive rate and repressed tumor growth.

CONCLUSION

FBXW7 overexpression promoted HOXA10 ubiquitination-based degradation and further inhibited BMP2 transcription, consequently restricting NPC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo.

A novel PLK1 inhibitor onvansertib effectively sensitizes MYC-driven medulloblastoma to radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

Group 3 medulloblastoma (MB) is often accompanied by MYC amplification. PLK1 is an oncogenic kinase that controls cell cycle and proliferation and has been preclinically validated as a cancer therapeutic target. Onvansertib (PCM-075) is a novel, orally available PLK1 inhibitor, which shows tumor growth inhibition in various types of cancer. We aim to explore the effect of onvansertib on MYC-driven medulloblastoma as a monotherapy or in combination with radiation.

METHODS

Crisper-Cas9 screen was used to discover essential genes for MB tumor growth. Microarray and immunohistochemistry on pediatric patient samples were performed to examine the expression of PLK1. The effect of onvansertib in vitro was measure by cell viability, colony-forming assays, extreme limiting dilution assay, and RNA-Seq. ALDH activity, cell-cycle distribution, and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. DNA damage was assessed by immunofluorescence staining. Medulloblastoma xenografts were generated to explore the monotherapy or radio-sensitizing effect.

RESULTS

PLK1 is overexpressed in Group 3 MB. The IC50 concentrations of onvansertib in Group 3 MB cell lines were in a low nanomolar range. Onvansertib reduced colony formation, cell proliferation, stem cell renewal and induced G2/M arrest in vitro. Moreover, onvansertib in combination with radiation increased DNA damage and apoptosis compared with radiation treatment alone. The combination radiotherapy resulted in marked tumor regression in xenografts.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate the efficacy of a novel PLK1 inhibitor onvansertib in vitro and in xenografts of Group 3 MB, which suggests onvansertib is an effective strategy as monotherapy or in combination with radiotherapy in MB.

Demethylzeylasteral inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion through FBXW7/c-Myc axis in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most familiar malignancy in the digestive system. Demethylzeylasteral (Dem), a natural functional monomer extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, shows anti‐tumor effects in a variety of cancers, including GC, however, with the underlying mechanism poorly understood. In our study, we show that Dem inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells, which are mediated by down‐regulating c‐Myc protein levels. Mechanistically, Dem reduces the stability of c‐Myc by up‐regulating FBXW7, an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Moreover, in xenograft tumor model experiment, Dem also inhibits GC, which depends on suppressing c‐Myc expression. Finally, Dem enhances GC cell chemosensitivity to the combination treatment of 5‐Fluorouracil (5‐Fu) and doxorubicin (DOX) in vitro. Together, Dem exerts anti‐neoplastic activities through destabilizing and suppressing c‐Myc, establishing a theory foundation for using it in future treatment of GC.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics of FBXW7-Mutated Colorectal Adenocarcinoma and Association with Aberrant Beta-catenin Localization

Oncogenic mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)/Wnt signaling pathway are well documented. The FBXW7 gene (F-Box And WD Repeat Domain Containing 7) encodes a member of the ubiquitin-proteasome complex that is more recently described to antagonize the oncogenic Wnt pathway by promoting the degradation of β-catenin encoded by CTNNB1 gene. The pathologic significance of FBXW7 mutation in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) remains underreported. In this study, we report the clinicopathologic and β-catenin immunohistochemical features of a single-institution cohort (83 cases) of FBXW7-mutated CRC compared to CTNNB1-mutated CRC. FBXW7-mutated CRC was more common in older patients (p=0.031) and in the left/distal colon (p=0.022). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that aberrant nuclear/cytoplasmic β-catenin localization was identified in a significantly high proportion of FBXW7-mutated CRCs. When compared to CTNNB1-mutated CRC, FBXW7-mutated CRC showed a significantly higher proportion of MSI-stable tumors with intact expression of DNA mismatch repair proteins, and had significantly more frequent co-occurrence of missense TP53 and KRAS mutations. The most frequently mutated FBXW7 residues/hotspots were located within the WD repeat domains (aa 378-659), which were also associated with aberrant nuclear/cytoplasmic localization of β-catenin protein. Our results indicate the unique pathologic characteristics of FBXW7 mutated CRC with frequent co-occurrence of missense mutant TP53, and KRAS. The mutated FBXW7 residues/hotspots and its association with aberrant nuclear/cytoplasmic β-catenin localization further support the oncogenic role of FBXW7 in colon carcinogenesis.

Downregulated F-Box/LRR-Repeat Protein 7 Facilitates Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis by Regulating Snail1 for Proteasomal Degradation

Pancreatic cancer (PCa) is one of the most aggressive lethal malignancies, and cancer metastasis is the major cause of PCa-associated death. F-box/LRR-repeat protein 7 (FBXL7) regulates cancer metastasis and the chemosensitivity of human pancreatic cancer. However, the clinical significance and biological role of FBXL7 in PCa have been rarely studied. In this study, we found that the expression of FBXL7 was down-regulated in PCa tissues compared with tumor-adjacent tissues, and the low expression of FBXL7 was positively associated with cancer metastasis. Functionally, overexpression of FBXL7 attenuated PANC1 cell invasion, whereas FBXL7 silencing promoted BxPC-3 cell invasion. Forced expression of FBXL7 upregulated the expression of epithelial markers (e.g., E-cadherin) and repressed the expression of mesenchymal markers (e.g., N-cadherin and Vimentin), indicating that FBXL7 negatively regulated the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of PCa cells. Furthermore, we identified that FBXL7 repressed the expression of Snail1, a crucial transcription factor of EMT. Mechanistically, FBXL7 bound to Snail1 and promoted its ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. In vivo studies demonstrated that FBXL7 inhibition promotes PCa metastasis. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that FBXL7 knockdown could efficiently enhance PCa metastasis by regulating Snail1-dependent EMT.

MiR-223 regulates autophagy associated with cisplatin resistance by targeting FBXW7 in human non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Cisplatin is widely used as a first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but chemoresistance remains a major clinical obstacle for efficient use. As a microRNA, miR-223 was reported to promote the doxorubicin resistance of NSCLC. However, whether miR-223 is also involved in cisplatin resistance of NSCLC and the mechanism miR-223 involved in drug resistance is unclear. Accumulated evidence has shown that abnormal autophagy is associated with tumor chemoresistance. The study aimed to study the role of miR-223 on cisplatin sensitivity in NSCLC and uncover the potential mechanisms.

Methods

NSCLC cells transfected with mimic or inhibitor for miR-223 was assayed for chemoresistance in vitro. MiR-223 expression was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Western blot were used to study the expression level of F-box/WD repeat-containing protein 7 (FBXW7) and autophagy-related protein. The effect of miR-223 on cisplatin sensitivity was examined by using CCK-8, EdU assays and Autophagic flux assay. Luciferase assays, EdU assays and small interfering RNA were performed to identify the targets of miR-223 and the mechanism by which it promotes treatment resistance. Xenograft models were established to investigate the effect of mir-223 on cisplatin sensitivity.

Results

In the present study, we found that the level of miR-223 was significantly positively correlated with cisplatin resistance. MiR-223 overexpression made NSCLC cells resistant to cisplatin treatment. We further found that autophagy mediated miR-223-mediated cisplatin resistance in NSCLC cells. Further mechanistic research demonstrated that miR-223 directly targeted FBXW7. The overexpression of miR-223 could inhibit the level of FBXW7 protein expression, thus promoting autophagy and making NSCLC cells resistant to cisplatin. Finally, we confirmed the increased effect of cisplatin sensitivity by miR-223 Antagomir in xenograft models of NSCLC.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that miR-223 could enhance autophagy by targeting FBXW7 in NSCLC cells. Inhibition of autophagy by miR-223 knockdown provides a novel treatment strategy to alleviate cisplatin resistance in NSCLC.

Recent insight into the role of FBXW7 as a tumor suppressor

FBXW7 (also known as Fbw7, Sel10, hCDC4, or hAgo) is a tumor suppressor and the most frequently mutated member of the F-box protein family in human cancers. FBXW7 functions as the substrate recognition component of an SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligase. It specifically controls the proteasome-mediated degradation of many oncoproteins such as c-MYC, NOTCH, KLF5, cyclin E, c-JUN, and MCL1. In this review, we summarize the molecular and biological features of FBXW7 and its substrates as well as the impact of mutations of FBXW7 on cancer development. We also address the clinical potential of anticancer therapy targeting FBXW7.

Deguelin suppresses non-small cell lung cancer by inhibiting EGFR signaling and promoting GSK3β/FBW7-mediated Mcl-1 destabilization

Activating mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) play crucial roles in the oncogenesis of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By screening 79 commercially available natural products, we found that the natural compound deguelin exhibited a profound anti-tumor effect on NSCLC via directly down-regulating of EGFR-signaling pathway. Deguelin potently inhibited in vitro EGFR kinase activity of wild type (WT), exon 19 deletion, and L858R/T790M-mutated EGFR. The in silico docking study indicated that deguelin was docked into the ATP-binding pocket of EGFRs. By suppression of EGFR signaling, deguelin inhibited anchorage-dependent, and independent growth of NSCLC cell lines, and significantly delayed tumorigenesis in vivo. Further study showed that deguelin inhibited EGFR and downstream kinase Akt, which resulted in the activation of GSK3β and eventually enhanced Mcl-1 phosphorylation at S159. Moreover, deguelin promoted the interaction between Mcl-1 and E3 ligase SCF^FBW7, which enhanced FBW7-mediated Mcl-1 ubiquitination and degradation. Additionally, phosphorylation of Mcl-1 by GSK3β is a prerequisite for FBW7-mediated Mcl-1 destruction. Depletion or pharmacological inactivation of GSK3β compromised deguelin-induced Mcl-1 ubiquitination and reduction. Taken together, our data indicate that enhancement of ubiquitination-dependent Mcl-1 turnover might be a promising approach for cancer treatment.

Saga of Mcl-1: regulation from transcription to degradation

The members of the Bcl-2 family are the central regulators of various cell death modalities. Some of these proteins contribute to apoptosis, while others counteract this type of programmed cell death, thus balancing cell demise and survival. A disruption of this balance leads to the development of various diseases, including cancer. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that underlie the regulation of proteins of the Bcl-2 family is of great importance for biomedical research. Among the members of the Bcl-2 family, antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1 is characterized by a short half-life, which renders this protein highly sensitive to changes in its synthesis or degradation. Hence, the regulation of Mcl-1 is of particular scientific interest, and the study of Mcl-1 modulators could aid in the understanding of the mechanisms of disease development and the ways of their treatment. Here, we summarize the present knowledge regarding the regulation of Mcl-1, from transcription to degradation, focusing on aspects that have not yet been described in detail.

TRIP13 promotes the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of glioblastoma through the FBXW7/c-MYC axis

Background

Thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13 (TRIP13) is an AAA + ATPase that plays an important role in the mitotic checkpoint. TRIP13 is highly expressed in various human tumours and promotes tumorigenesis. However, the biological effect of TRIP13 in GBM cells remains unclear.

Methods

We generated GBM cell models with overexpressed or silenced TRIP13 via lentivirus-mediated overexpression and RNAi methods. The biological role of TRIP13 in the proliferation, migration and invasion of GBM cells has been further explored.

Results

Our research indicated that TRIP13 was highly expressed in GBM tissues and cells. We found that the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities were inhibited in TRIP13-knockdown GBM cells. These results indicated that TRIP13 plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of GBM. Moreover, we found that TRIP13 first stabilised c-MYC by inhibiting the transcription of FBXW7, which is an E3 ubiquitin ligase of c-MYC, by directly binding to the promoter region of FBXW7. Therefore, our study indicated that the TRIP13/FBXW7/c-MYC pathway might provide a prospective therapeutic target in the treatment of GBM.

Conclusions

These results indicated that TRIP13 plays an oncogenic role in GBM. The TRIP13/FBXW7/c-MYC pathway might act as a prospective therapeutic target for GBM patients.

F-box/WD-40 repeat-containing protein 7: A potential target in the progression and treatment of gastrointestinal malignancy

Cancer is a principal cause of human morbidity and mortality, with gastrointestinal malignancies, in particular, resulting in a marked number of tumor-associated mortalities. The progression of gastrointestinal malignancy is regulated by a variety of aberrantly expressed proteins, a number of which facilitate tumor progression, whereas, others function as tumor suppressors. The detection of such proteins not only contributes to the early diagnosis of cancer, they may additionally serve as potential therapeutic targets. In normal tissues, numerous proteins encoded by proto-oncoproteins are degraded by ubiquitylation enzymes, consisting of F-box/WD-40 repeat-containing protein 7 (Fbw7) and other proteins, thus avoiding tumorigenesis and maintaining homeostasis. In tumor tissues, the downregulation of Fbw7, caused by various factors, leads to disorders in ubiquitinase synthesis, which may induce tumor progression and chemoresistance, particularly in gastrointestinal malignancy. Therefore, an in-depth study of the regulatory mechanisms involved in disorders of Fbw7 expression and the role of Fbw7 in chemoresistance of gastrointestinal tumors may suggest improvements for early diagnostic screening and targeted therapy.

FBXW7 in Cancer: What Has Been Unraveled Thus Far?

: The FBXW7 (F-box with 7 tandem WD40) protein encoded by the gene FBXW7 is one of the crucial components of ubiquitin ligase called Skp1-Cullin1-F-box (SCF) complex that aids in the degradation of many oncoproteins via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) thus regulating cellular growth. FBXW7 is considered as a potent tumor suppressor as most of its target substrates can function as potential growth promoters, including c-Myc, Notch, cyclin E, c-JUN, and KLF5. Its regulators include p53, C/EBP-δ, Numb, microRNAs, Pin 1, Hes-5, BMI1, Ebp2. Mounting evidence has indicated the involvement of aberrant expression of FBXW7 for tumorigenesis. Moreover, numerous studies have also shown its role in cancer cell chemosensitization, thereby demonstrating the importance of FBXW7 in the development of curative cancer therapy. This comprehensive review emphasizes on the targets, functions, regulators and expression of FBXW7 in different cancers and its involvement in sensitizing cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs.

Conophylline suppresses pancreatic cancer desmoplasia and cancer-promoting cytokines produced by cancer-associated fibroblasts

Despite recent advances in cancer treatment, pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant tumor type with a dismal prognosis and it is characterized by dense desmoplasia in the cancer tissue. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are responsible for this fibrotic stroma and promote cancer progression. We previously reported that a novel natural compound conophylline (CnP) extracted from the leaves of a tropical plant reduced liver and pancreatic fibrosis by suppression of stellate cells. However, there have been no studies to investigate the effects of CnP on CAF, which is the aim of this work. Here, we showed that CAF stimulated indicators of pancreatic cancer malignancy, such as proliferation, invasiveness, and chemoresistance. We also showed that CnP suppressed CAF activity and proliferation, and inhibited the stimulating effects of CAF on pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, CnP strongly decreased the various cytokines involved in cancer progression, such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), secreted by CAF. In vivo, CAF promoted tumor proliferation and desmoplastic formation in a mouse xenograft model, CnP reduced desmoplasia of tumors composed of pancreatic cancer cells + CAF, and combination therapy of CnP with gemcitabine remarkably inhibited tumor proliferation. Our findings suggest that CnP is a promising therapeutic strategy of combination therapy with anticancer drugs to overcome refractory pancreatic cancers.

The prognostic significance of FBXO2 expression in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed malignancy, and the prognosis at advanced tumor stages remains poor. FBXO2, a member of the F-box protein family, is a cytoplasmic protein and an ubiquitin ligase. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of FBXO2 in colorectal cancer. The expression levels of Ki67, N-cadherin and FBXO2 were detected in 195 pairs of primary CRC tissues using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The associations among Ki67, N-cadherin, and FBXO2 expression, as well as the clinicopathological parameters, were analyzed. Survival curves were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to explore the prognostic significance of Ki67, N-cadherin, and FBXO2 expression. We found that the positive rates of Ki67, N-cadherin and FBXO2 expression in CRC tissue samples were 55.9%, 65.1%, 62.6%, respectively. The high expression levels of Ki67 and N-cadherin were significantly correlated with CRC size (P = 0.01) and metastasis (P = 0.01), respectively. The high expression level of FBXO2 was significantly correlated with CRC metastasis (P = 0.04) and AJCC stage (P = 0.029). A Cox regression analysis revealed that FBXO2 is an independent prognostic factor for CRC patients (HR 1.817, 95% CI 1.106-2.983, P = 0.018). FBXO2 may serve as a biomarker for metastasis and a reliable predictor for poor prognosis in CRC patients.