Prognostic model for colorectal cancer based on folic acid metabolism-related genes reveals immune landscape.

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor with high invasiveness and mortality. Folic acid metabolism-related genes (FAMGs) are critical for DNA synthesis and repair, but their roles in CRC initiation and progression remain unclear.

METHODS

TCGA-COAD/READ datasets served as the training set, and GSE38832 as the validation set. CRC was molecularly subtyped via FAMGs expression. Prognostic genes were identified through LASSO regression, and univariate/multivariate Cox analyses, with a prognostic model constructed. Immune infiltration was assessed using CIBERSORT, ssGSEA, and ESTIMATE, and molecular mechanisms explored via GSEA, GO, and KEGG.

RESULTS

Three CRC subgroups with distinct biological functions and immune heterogeneity were identified. Six FAMGs highly expressed in CRC were used to build a prognostic model. High-risk groups showed lower immune cell infiltration, and upregulated DEGs between risk groups were enriched in the Wnt signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

This study explores FAMGs' roles in CRC's tumor microenvironment and molecular mechanisms, providing new insights for CRC's pathological research and treatment strategies.