TWIST1 mediated transcriptional activation of SPON2 drives colorectal peritoneal metastasis through activation of cancer-associated fibroblast signaling network

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. Peritoneal metastasis (PM), a malignant dissemination within the peritoneal cavity, affects approximately 20% of CRC patients and accounts for 25–35% of stage IV cases. CRC PM is associated with dismal outcomes, with a median overall survival of only 16 months on systemic chemotherapy and an almost 0% five-year survival rate, largely due to frequent treatment resistance and limited therapeutic options.

Despite advances in understanding CRC metastasis, the molecular mechanisms driving CRC PM remain poorly defined. CRC heterogeneity is classified into four Consensus Molecular Subtypes (CMS1-4), with CRC PM tumors predominantly exhibiting the CMS4 signature—characterized by stromal enrichment, high mesenchymal gene expression, and enhanced cellular plasticity—features linked to aggressive disease progression and resistance to standard chemotherapy.

In this study, we identify TWIST1, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, as significantly upregulated in CRC PM. We establish TWIST1-SPON2 as a novel transcriptional axis driving CRC PM tumorigenesis, mediating tumor-stroma interactions between tumor epithelium and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Additionally, we identify SPP1, secreted by CAFs, as an upstream regulator of the TWIST1-SPON2 cascade via AKT activation in tumor cells. This newly defined SPP1-TWIST1-SPON2 signaling circuit plays a pivotal role in shaping the tumor microenvironment and promoting CRC PM progression. The findings establish the SPP1-TWIST1-SPON2 axis as a potential biomarker and a promising therapeutic target in CRC PM.

Keyword: Colorectal cancer, peritoneal metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cancer-associated fibroblast