Page 258 - EJMO-9-3

Eurasian Journal of Medicine

and Oncology

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Enhanced expression of metastasis-associated

genes in colorectal cancer

1,2
Adeodatus Yuda Handaya * , Hendra Susanto 3 , and Moch Sholeh 4
1 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2 Digestive Surgery Division, Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang,
Malang, East Java, Indonesia
4 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia

Abstract
Introduction: Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a major cause of
cancer-related morbidity and death, with metastasis—particularly to the liver—
significantly worsening patient outcomes.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of key epithelial-
mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcription factors (Snail family transcriptional
repressor 1 [SNAI1], zinc finger e-box binding homeobox 1 [ZEB1], Slug, Twist, and
metastasis-associated protein 3 [MTA3]) and the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor
necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in CRC cases with and without metastasis to the liver.
Methods: A total of 41 CRC patients (20 non-metastatic, 21 with liver metastasis)
from Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, were examined utilizing reverse
*Corresponding author: transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction of the adjacent normal tissues
Adeodatus Yuda Handaya and the tumors.
(yudahandaya@ugm.ac.id) Results: SNAI1, ZEB1, Slug, Twist, and TNF-α were significantly upregulated in
Citation: Handaya AY, Susanto H, metastatic CRC, while MTA3 was downregulated. Expression of these markers
Sholeh M. Enhanced expression correlated with body mass index, liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase), and
of metastasis-associated genes in cancer stage.
colorectal cancer. Eurasian J Med
Oncol. 2025;9(3):250-260. Conclusion: These findings highlight the central role of EMT-related transcription
doi: 10.36922/EJMO025210202 factors and inflammatory signaling in CRC metastasis and suggest that targeting
Received: May 19, 2025 these pathways could offer novel therapeutic strategies for metastatic CRC.
Revised: June 23, 2025
Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Liver metastasis; Body weight loss; Metastasis marker
Accepted: July 23, 2025
Published online: August 18, 2025
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article 1. Introduction
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common malignancy and the second leading
License, permitting distribution, cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, is one of the most common cancers.
1
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is Incidence rates vary widely across different regions, with a higher prevalence observed
properly cited. in developed countries compared to developing countries. The etiology of CRC is
Publisher’s Note: AccScience multifactorial, involving a combination of genetic predispositions, lifestyle factors such
Publishing remains neutral with as diet and physical inactivity, and environmental influences. Notably, polymorphisms in
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional several genes have been studied for their potential association with CRC risk, although
2-5
affiliations. findings regarding their significance have been mixed. Pathologically, CRC typically

Volume 9 Issue 3 (2025) 250 doi: 10.36922/EJMO025210202