COL3A1 promotes gastric cancer progression by activating PI3K/AKT signaling.

COL3A1 plays an oncogenic role in several types of cancer; however, the function of COL3A1 in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. The present study investigated the function and possible molecular mechanisms of COL3A1 in GC. The results showed that COL3A1 mRNA and protein were overexpressed in GC tissues and cells, and is associated with Immune microenvironment remodeling. High COL3A1 expression indicates poor prognosis. ESR1 transcriptionally elevates COL3A1 expression in GC. COL3A1-integrin α1 autocrine and paracrine axis promotes the proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis of GC by activating PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Targeting COL3A1 could significantly inhibit GC growth in vivo. Collectively, our findings indicated that COL3A1 could act as an oncogene in GC through regulating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.