Unveiling the clinical significance of RNA pseudouridine in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy characterized by rising incidence and mortality rates worldwide. The involvement of RNA pseudouridine synthase enzymes in CRC development is well-documented, yet the transcriptomic profile of pseudouridine (Ψ) in CRC remains largely unexplored. This study explored the transcriptomic landscape of Ψ in CRC by analyzing 21 biopsies and their corresponding adjacent healthy tissues, along with blood samples from 10 patients using PRAISE, a quantitative pseudouridine sequencing technology at base resolution. Our findings revealed significant differences in Ψ distribution and levels between CRC samples and adjacent normal tissues, correlating with the expression levels of DKC1, PUS7L, and PUS10. Notably, distinct Ψ levels of snoRNAs could serve as potential tumor biomarkers. Furthermore, we assessed the clinical utility of Ψ in both tumor and blood samples. Differentiated Ψ levels showed promising correlations with clinical markers such as cancer antigen 125, cancer antigen 153, and cancer antigen 199 in tumors, whereas Ψ sites in blood revealed enhanced correlations with routine blood indicators like white blood cells (WBCs) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). These findings underscore the significant role of RNA Ψ in CRC, providing valuable insights into its potential applications for clinical diagnosis and treatment.