Published online Dec 15, 2023. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i12.2185
Peer-review started: August 15, 2023
First decision: October 9, 2023
Revised: October 16, 2023
Accepted: November 9, 2023
Article in press: November 9, 2023
Published online: December 15, 2023
Processing time: 117 Days and 4.6 Hours
Core Tip: This study aims to assess the significance of paired-related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) expression and investigate the mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in oesophageal cancer metastasis. PRRX1 is expressed at high levels in oesophageal cancer specimens and is closely related to tumour metastasis in patients with oesophageal cancer. Regulation of PRRX1 expression might exert obvious effects on cell proliferation, especially the migration and invasion of oesophageal cancer cells. Moreover, silencing PRRX1 expression using a short hairpin RNA produced the opposite effects. In addition, when PRRX1 was overexpressed, inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway with XAV939 negated the effect of PRRX1 on EMT, whereas when PRRX1 was downregulated, activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway with LiCl impaired the effect on EMT. These observations indicate that PRRX1 is upregulated in oesophageal cancer is closely correlated with cancer metastasis. Additionally, PRRX1 induces EMT in oesophageal cancer metastasis through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling.