Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most common malignancy worldwide. Cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) is a key regulatory gene in the recently identified cell death pathway known as cuproptosis. The small nucleolar RNA host gene 7 (SNHG7) is an important and versatile molecule engaged in a variety of tumorigenic processes. Poly(rC)-binding protein 2 (PCBP2) is an RNA-binding protein that enhances RNA stability and is implicated in the progression of various tumors. However, the clinical role of cuproptosis-related SNHG7 in CRC largely remains unclear. We conducted cell culture and subcutaneous tumor formation experiments in nude mice, followed by qPCR, Western blotting, RNA immunoprecipitation, lactate production assays, gel electrophoresis, and immunohistochemistry on the corresponding tissues. Our results demonstrate that SNHG7 interacts with PCBP2 to enhance the expression of CDKN2A, thereby modulating cuproptosis and promoting glycolysis. These findings suggest that SNHG7 represents a promising therapeutic target for CRC.