Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40041860›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in genetics2025

Identification of cancer-associated fibroblast signature genes for prognostic prediction in colorectal cancer.

Wei Jin, Yuchang Lu, Jingen Lu, Zhenyi Wang, Yixin Yan, Biao Liang, Shiwei Qian, Jiachun Ni, Yiheng Yang, Shuo Huang and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in genetics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Wei Jin *Department of Anorectal Surgery, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yuchang Lu *Department of Anorectal Surgery, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jingen LuDepartment of Anorectal Surgery, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Zhenyi WangDepartment of Anorectal Surgery, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yixin YanDepartment of internal medicine, The Third People's Hospital of Chongming District, Shanghai, China.
Biao LiangDepartment of Anorectal Surgery, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Shiwei QianDepartment of Anorectal Surgery, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jiachun NiDepartment of Anorectal Surgery, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yiheng YangDepartment of Anorectal Surgery, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Shuo HuangDepartment of Anorectal Surgery, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Changpeng HanDepartment of Anorectal Surgery, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Haojie YangDepartment of Anorectal Surgery, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts are an essential part of the tumor immunoenvironment, playing key roles in malignancy progression and treatment response. This study was to characterize cancer-associated fibroblasts-related genes (CAFs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and establish signature genes associated with CAF for prognosis prediction. Methods: We downloaded single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from the GEO database and bulk RNA-seq data from TCGA database to identify differentially expressed genes related to fibroblasts. In the TCGA set, DEGs were identified from tumor samples, and the WGCNA method was utilized to identify module genes. By comparing the WGCNA module genes with tumor fibroblast-related DEGs, we took the overlapped cohorts as crucial CAFs. Moreover, the prognostic CAFs were identified using univariate analysis. A CAFs risk model was established using the LASSO algorithm and then validated using external datasets. Ultimately, the expression of prognostic CAFs in CRC was confirmed using qRT-PCR. Results: A large cohort of DEGs were identified as CAFs, with eight demonstrating prognostic significance. These CAFs were primarily related to seven pathways, including peroxisome function, B cell receptor signal, and cell adhesion molecule. The CAFs risk model exhibited high accuracy for predicting prognosis, as confirmed through validation using external independent cohorts. Additionally, the risk signature showed significant correlations with immune-related scores, tumor purity, estimate, and stromal scores. qRT-PCR validated that the expression level of RAB36 was significantly downregulated in the HCT116 and HT29 cell lines compared to the NCM460 cells. Conversely, CD177, PBX4 and CCDC78 were upregulated in the HCT116 and HT29 cell lines, and ACSL6 and KCNJ14 only in HCT116 cells ( Conclusion: The CAFs risk model accurately predicted prognosis, immune cell infiltration, and stromal estimates. The prognostic CAFs (CD177 and CCDC78) may be potential therapeutic targets for CRC.

Indexed as

cancer-associated fibroblastcolorectal cancerimmunityprognosissignature genes

Identifiers

PMID40041860
PMCPMC11876384

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