RNAi silencing targeting SOX4 inhibits 5-fluorouracil resistance in human colorectal cancer

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance has become a great challenge to successful medical treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). The purpose of our study is to determine the role of SOX4 in human CRC with 5-FU resistance. RNA interference technology was employed to silence the expression of SOX4 in 5-FU-resistant SW1116 cells. The expression of SOX4 was investigated by qRT-PCR and western blot. Cell viabilities in response to 5-FU treatment were assessed using MTT assay, whereas cell cycle and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometric assay. A mouse xenograft model was used to assess the impact of SOX4 on the efficacy of 5-FU in vivo. We found that SOX4 was highly expressed in 5-FU-resistant SW1116 cells, and silencing SOX4 attenuated 5-FU resistance. These data suggested a crucial role of SOX4 in the progress of 5-FU resistance of CRC cells and silencing SOX4 might be considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for overcoming 5-FU resistance in CRC.