Comprehensive characterization of adipogenesis-related genes in colorectal cancer for clinical significance and immunogenomic landscape analyses

Abstract Objective Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern, necessitating the identification of biomarkers and molecular subtypes for improved clinical management. This study aims to evaluate the clinical value of adipogenesis-related genes and molecular subtypes in CRC. Methods A comprehensive analysis of adipogenesis-related genes in CRC was performed using publicly available datasets (TCGA and GEO database) and bioinformatics tools. Unsupervised cluster analysis was employed to identify the molecular subtypes of CRC, while LASSO regression analysis was utilized to develop a risk prognostic model. The immunogenomic patterns and immunotherapy analysis were used to predict patient response to immunotherapy. Furthermore, qPCR analysis was conducted to confirm the expression of the identified key genes in vitro. Results Through the analysis of RNAseq data from normal and tumor tissues, we identified 50 differentially expressed genes. Unsupervised cluster analysis identified two subtypes (Cluster A and Cluster B) with significantly different survival outcomes. Cluster A and B displayed differential immune cell compositions and enrichment in specific biological pathways, providing insights into potential therapeutic targets. A risk-scoring model was developed using five ARGs, which successfully classified patients into high and low-risk groups, showing distinct survival outcomes. The model was validated and showed robust predictive performance. High-risk patients exhibited altered immune cell proportions and gene expression patterns compared to low-risk patients. In qPCR validation, four out of the five key genes were consistent with the results of bioinformatics analysis. Conclusion Overall, the findings of our investigation offer valuable understanding regarding the clinical relevance of ARGs and molecular subtypes in CRC, laying the groundwork for improved precision medicine applications and personalized treatment modalities.