Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

The Role of the MYC-EGR1 Pathway in Inducing p53-independent Apoptosis in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Publication Date

2026

College

College of Sciences & Mathematics

Department

Biology, Department of

SURS Faculty Advisor

Erick Spears

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

The MYC EGR1 pathway is a molecular pathway that has been shown in multiple cancer types to induce P53- independent apoptosis. The activity of this pathway has not been fully elucidated in human colorectal cancer cells before. These studies seek to assess the role of the MYC-EGR1 pathway in driving basal p53-independent apoptosis in the HCT116 human colorectal cell line.  TP53-variant HCT116 cells were transiently and stably transduced with lentivirus containing shRNA targeting either MYC, EGR1, or a non-targeting, scrambled sequence control. The cells were left to grow to confluence and then live cells were stained for activated caspase 3/7 to assess active apoptosis. Transient transductions were marked with GFP and very sparse making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Data from the stably transduced lines indicate EGR1 is necessary for p53-independent apoptosis in these cells, but may or may not require MYC. These preliminary data indicate that EGR1 is likely driving apoptosis in HCT116 cells in a p53-independent manner but that MYC may or may not be required for EGR1-stimulated apoptosis in these cells.

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