Identification of crucial ubiquitin-associated genes for predicting the effects of immunotherapy and therapeutic...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• The ubiquitin-proteasome system plays a role in colorectal cancer (CRC) development.
• Reliable immune landscape and prognostic markers for CRC are currently limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify novel ubiquitin-associated gene signatures for CRC prognosis.
• To analyze the immune landscape and predict drug sensitivity in CRC patients based on ubiquitin-related gene expression.

Main Methods:

• Systematic analysis of RNA-seq data from GEO and TCGA databases for 2,830 ubiquitin-related genes.
• Development and validation of a CRC prognostic risk model using identified gene signatures.
• Multi-dimensional analysis of high-risk and low-risk CRC subgroups, including immune cell fractions and drug response prediction.

Main Results:

• Identified 131 differentially expressed ubiquitin-related genes, ultimately selecting 9 prognostic genes for CRC validated in clinical samples.
• The 9-gene signature strongly correlated with CRC patient survival, immune cell fractions, and immune gene expression.
• The prognostic model revealed distinct clinicopathological and immune characteristics in stratified CRC patients. Regorafenib and sorafenib showed promise for high-risk patients.

Conclusions:

• Ubiquitin-associated gene expression patterns serve as valuable indicators of CRC prognosis.
• These findings support the development of innovative biomarkers for precision medicine in colorectal cancer treatment.