Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of kinesin family member 23 (KIF23) in colorectal cancer, as well as its biological function and possible mechanism in colorectal cancer cells. Methods The cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues from 20 colorectal cancer patients diagnosed and treated in Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, from May 2021 to December 2021 were collected. The expression of KIF23 in colorectal cancer tissues was detected by RT⁃qPCR, its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed, and the expression differences were verified by using an online database (TGGA，CCLE). KIF23 in human colorectal cancer RKO cells was silenced by using the siRNA transfection technology, cell proliferation and migration ability were detected by the CCK⁃8 assay, EDU proliferation assay, and Transwell migration assay. The expression levels of MDM2, p53, and p21 were detected by Western blot. Results The expression of KIF23 in colorectal cancer tissues was higher than that in adjacent normal tissues (P<0.0001), and the online database validation results showed the same trend (P<0.0001). Univariable analysis showed that expression level of KIF23 was correlated with tumor metastasis, CEA and CA199 levels (all P<0.05). The results of the vitro experiments showed that, compared with the siNC group, the proliferation and migration ability was significantly decreased in the siKIF23 group (all P<0.01), the protein expression levels of KIF23 and MDM2 were decreased (all P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of p53 and p21 were increased (all P<0.01). Conclusions KIF23 is highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissues, and may regulate malignant behaviors such as proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer cells through the MDM2⁃p53/p21 signaling pathway.

Key words: Colorectal cancer, Kinesin family member 23, MDM2, Proliferation, Migration