Telomere-related gene risk model for prognosis prediction in colorectal cancer. (PubMed, Transl Cancer Res)
Additionally, compared to the low-risk group, the high-risk group exhibited significantly advanced tumor node metastasis (TNM) stages, lower proportions of activated CD4+ T cells, effector memory CD4+ T cells, and memory B cells, but increased ratios of M2 macrophages and regulatory T cells (Tregs), elevated tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) scores, and diminished sensitivity to dabrafenib, lapatinib, camptothecin, docetaxel, and telomerase inhibitor IX, reflecting the signature's capacity to distinguish clinical pathological characteristics, immune environment, and drug efficacy. Finally, we validated the expression of the ten TRDEGs (ACACB, TPX2, SRPX, PPARGC1A, CD36, MMP3, NAT2, MMP10, HIGD1A, and MMP1) through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and found that compared to normal cells, the expression levels of ACACB, HIGD1A, NAT2, PPARGC1A, and TPX2 in CRC cells were elevated, whereas those of CD36, SRPX, MMP1, MMP3, and MMP10 were reduced. Overall, we constructed a telomere-related biomarker capable of predicting prognosis and treatment response in CRC individuals, offering potential guidance for drug therapy selection and prognosis prediction.