Using in vivo models and 3D ex vivo organoid cultures of mouse adenomas and human CRC, we found that Prox1 deletion reduced the number of stem cells and cell proliferation and decreased intestinal tumor growth via induction of annexin A1 and reduction of the actin-binding protein filamin A, which has been implicated as a prognostic marker in CRC.
Furthermore, in intestinal tumorsPROX1 is a direct and dose-dependent target of the beta-catenin/TCF signaling pathway, responsible for the neoplastic transformation.