Keratin 80 promotes migration and invasion of colorectal carcinoma by interacting with PRKDC via activating the AKT pathway

Little is known about the function of Keratin 80 (KRT80), an epithelial keratin, in cancer. This study investigated the role of KRT80 in the prognosis of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and the underlying mechanisms involved in CRC migration and invasion. We analyzed the expression of KRT80 using The Cancer Genome Atlas and Oncomine databases. Higher expression of KRT80 was found to be significantly associated with multiple pathological parameters, lower disease-free survival, and overall survival in CRC patients. Also, KRT80 was an independent prognostic indicator for CRC. Furthermore, altered KRT80 expression impacted migration and invasion of CRC cells, as well as the expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers and cell morphology via the AKT pathway. Inhibiting the expression of AKT could reverse these phenomena. Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer/Mass Spectromete, Co-immunoprecipitation, and laser scanning confocal microscopy techniques showed that KRT80 could interact with protein kinase, DNA-activated, catalytic polypeptide (PRKDC). Suppressing PRKDC could inhibit the expression of AKT and EMT, as well as the migration and invasion of CRC cells. Taken together, these results demonstrated that KRT80 was an independent prognostic biomarker for CRC and promoted CRC migration and invasion by interacting with PRKDC via activation of the AKT pathway.