Receptor-Interacting Serine/Threonine-Protein Kinase-2 as a Potential Prognostic Factor in Colorectal Cancer

Background and objectives: Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase-2 (RIPK2) is an important mediator in different pathways in the immune and inflammatory response system. RIPK2 was also shown to play different roles in different cancer types; however, in colorectal cancer (CRC), its role is not well established. This study aims at identifying the role of RIPK2 in CRC progression and survival. Materials and methods: Data of patients and mRNA protein expression level of genes associated with CRC (RIPK2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), TRAF1, TRAF7, KLF6, interlukin-6 (Il6), interlukin-8 (Il8), vascular-endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), MKI67, TP53, nuclear factor-kappa B (NFKB), NFKB2, BCL2, XIAP, and RELA) were downloaded from the PrognoScan online public database. Patients were divided between low and high RIPK2 expression and different CRC characteristics were studied between the two groups. Survival curves were evaluated using a Kaplan-Meier estimator. The Pearson correlation was used to study the correlation between RIPK2 and the other factors. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 25.0. The Human Protein Atlas was also used for the relationship between RIPK2 expression in CRC tissues and survival. Differences were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 520 patients were downloaded from the PrognoScan database, and RIPK2 was found to correlate with MKI67, TRAF1, KLF6, TNF, Il6, Il8, VEGFA, NFKB2, BCL2, and RELA. High expression of RIPK2 was associated with high expression of VEGFA (p < 0.01) and increased mortality (p < 0.01). Conclusions: In this study, RIPK2 is shown to be a potential prognostic factor in CRC; however, more studies are needed to assess and verify its potential role as a prognostic marker and in targeted therapy.