Molecular characterization of colorectal cancer: A five-gene prognostic signature based on RNA-binding proteins

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate essential biological processes and play essential roles in a variety of cancers. The present study screened differentially expressed RBPs, analyzed their function and constructed a prognostic model to predict the overall survival of patients with CRC.

We downloaded CRC RNA-sequencing data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) portal and screened differentially expressed RBPs. Then, functional analyses of these genes were performed, and a risk model was established by multivariate Cox regression.

We obtained 132 differentially expressed RBPs, including 66 upregulated and 66 downregulated RBPs. Functional analysis revealed that these genes were significantly enriched in RNA processing, modification and binding, ribosome biogenesis, post-transcriptional regulation, ribonuclease and nuclease activity. Additionally, some RBPs were significantly related to interferon (IFN)-alpha and IFN-beta biosynthetic processes and the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. A prognostic model was constructed and included insulin like growth factor 2 messenger ribonucleic acid binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3), poly (A) binding protein cytoplasmic 1 like (PABPC1L), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PPARGC1A), peptidyl- transfer ribonucleic acid hydrolase 1 homolog (PTRH1) and tudor domain containing 7 (TDRD7). The model is an independent risk factor for clinicopathological characteristics.

Our study provided novel insights into the pathogenesis of CRC and constructed a prognostic gene model, which may be helpful for determining the prognosis of CRC.