Monocyte secretory IL-1β promotes colorectal cancer epithelial–mesenchymal transition via the p65–KRT7–ILK feedback

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the common malignant tumors of the digestive tract. Its incidence rate and mortality are increasing year by year. Finding new therapeutic targets for CRC has become the top priority. The tumor microenvironment is associated with CRC progression. In this study, monocytes in the tumor microenvironment could secrete interleukin-1β (IL1β), which can enhance the proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of colorectal cancer cells. Meanwhile, IL1β could activate p65, leading to an increase in KRT7, which further binds to ITGA1 to activate ILK, promoting epithelial–mesenchymal transition in CRC. ILK activity is enhanced and induces an increase in phosphorylation levels of p65, which can further promote the expression of KRT7, thereby forming a positive loop to promote the occurrence and development of CRC.