Esculetin inhibited PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and enhances anti-colorectal cancer activity via binding to ENO1

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignant tumor globally
and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Currently, although
the standard treatment for CRC is a combination of surgery and
chemotherapy, metastasis and recurrence are often associated with a poor
prognosis. In our preliminary research, we found that Esc has anti-colon
cancer effects both in vivo and in vitro. However, its specific target
sites and molecular mechanisms still lack in-depth exploration and remain
unclear. Therefore, we employed transcriptomics technology to analyze the
complex interactions between the drug and its targets, thereby conducting
a comprehensive evaluation. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms
underlying the anti-tumor properties of Esc in colorectal cancer, we
performed RNA sequencing for whole-genome expression analysis on HCT116
cell samples treated with Esc. Through enrichment analysis of
differentially expressed genes, we revealed that Esc is likely to
intervene in the development of colorectal cancer by regulating these
signaling pathway processes. This finding provides a more solid evidence
base for the development of new anti-tumor drugs with enhanced efficacy
and reduced toxicity.