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Updated: Nov 11, 2025
Quantitative Analysis of Autophagy using Advanced 3D Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: May 3, 2013
Prognostic implications of an autophagy-based signature in colorectal cancer
Liangbin Wang1, Xinlei Jiang2, Xingguo Zhang3
1Department of Anorectal Surgery, Beilun People's Hospital, Ningbo.
Background:
The heterogeneity of colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant challenge to the precise treatment of patients. CRC has been divided into 4 consensus molecular subtypes (CMSs) with distinct biological and clinical characteristics, of which CMS4 has the mesenchymal identity and the highest relapse rate. Autophagy plays a vital role in CRC development and therapeutic response.
Methods:
The gene expression profiles collected from 6 datasets were applied to this study. Network analysis was applied to integrate the subtype-specific molecular modalities and autophagy signature to establish an autophagy-based prognostic signature for CRC (APSCRC).
Results:
Network analysis revealed that 6 prognostic autophagy genes (VAMP7, DLC1, FKBP1B, PEA15, PEX14, and DNAJB1) predominantly regulated the mesenchymal modalities of CRC. The APSCRC was constructed by these 6 core genes and applied for risk calculation. Patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups based on APSCRC score in all cohorts. Patients within the high-risk group showed an unfavorable prognosis. In multivariate analysis, the APSCRC remained an independent predictor of prognosis. Moreover, the APSCRC achieved higher prognostic power than commercialized multigene signatures.
Conclusions:
We proposed and validated an autophagy-based signature, which is a promising prognostic biomarker of CRC patients. Further prospective studies are warranted to test and validate its efficiency for clinical application.
Insights
This study identifies six autophagy genes that predict colorectal cancer (CRC) relapse. The developed autophagy-based prognostic signature for CRC (APSCRC) offers a promising tool for patient risk stratification and personalized treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) heterogeneity complicates patient treatment.
- Consensus Molecular Subtypes (CMSs) classify CRC, with CMS4 exhibiting mesenchymal traits and high relapse rates.
- Autophagy is crucial in CRC progression and treatment response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an autophagy-based prognostic signature for colorectal cancer (CRC).
- To identify key autophagy genes associated with CRC molecular subtypes, particularly CMS4.
- To evaluate the signature's predictive power compared to existing methods.
Main Methods:
- Utilized gene expression profiles from six datasets.
- Employed network analysis to integrate subtype-specific data with autophagy signatures.
- Constructed and validated an autophagy-based prognostic signature for CRC (APSCRC) using six core genes.
Main Results:
- Identified six prognostic autophagy genes (VAMP7, DLC1, FKBP1B, PEA15, PEX14, DNAJB1) linked to CRC mesenchymal features.
- The APSCRC effectively stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups across cohorts, with high-risk indicating poor prognosis.
- APSCRC demonstrated independent prognostic value and outperformed commercial multigene signatures.
Conclusions:
- An autophagy-based signature (APSCRC) shows potential as a prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer patients.
- The APSCRC can aid in stratifying patients based on relapse risk.
- Further clinical validation is recommended for the APSCRC's application.
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