Identification of β-catenin target genes in colorectal cancer by interrogating gene fitness screening data

β-catenin tends to regulate its target genes, and the dysregulation of Wnt/b-catenin signaling facilitated hallmarks of colorectal cancer (CRC). Identification of β-catenin targets and their potential roles in tumorigenesis has gained increased interest. However, the number of identified targets remains limited. The present study implemented a novel strategy, interrogating gene fitness profiles derived from large-scale RNA interference and CRISPR-CRISPR associated protein 9 screening data to identify β-catenin target genes in CRC cell lines. Using these data sets, we computed pair wise gene fitness similarities, and highlighted a total of 13 genes whose functions were highly correlated with β-catenin. We further demonstrated their altered expressions in CRC, illustrating their potential roles in the progression of CRC. The present study further demonstrated that these targets could be used to predict disease-free survival in CRC. In conclusion, the findings provided novel approaches for the identification of β-catenin targets, which may become prognostic biomarkers or drug targets for the management of CRC.