Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common digestive tract tumor worldwide. In recent years, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been the most comprehensive treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). In this study, we explored immune infiltration in rectal cancer (RC) and identified immune-related differentially expressed genes (IRDEGs). Then, we identified response markers in datasets in GEO databases by principal component analysis (PCA). We also utilized three GEO datasets to identify the up- and downregulated response-related genes simultaneously and then identified genes shared between the PCA markers and three GEO datasets. Based on the hub IRDEGs, we identified target mRNAs and constructed a ceRNA network. Based on the ceRNA network, we explored prognostic biomarkers to develop a prognostic model for RC through Cox regression. We utilized the specimen to validate the expression of the two biomarkers. We also utilized LASSO regression to screen hub IRDEGs and built a nomogram to predict the response of LARC patients to CRT. All of the results show that the nomogram and prognostic model offer good prognostic value and that the ceRNA network can effectively highlight the regulatory relationship. hsa-mir-107 and WDFY3-AS2 may be prognostic biomarkers for RC.
Highlights
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most commonly diagnosed digestive tract cancer in the world
We identified target mRNAs based on the hub immune-related differentially expressed genes (IRDEGs) and built a competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) network to explore the regulation of lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA interactions in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) after CRT
CRT and surgery have been the standard treatments for LARC patients [34]
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most commonly diagnosed digestive tract cancer in the world. Rectal cancer (RC) accounts for one-third of newly diagnosed CRC and is associated with poor prognosis [1]. Many studies have recommended neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) as the standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) because of its low toxicity and low metastasis rate [1]. Only approximately 15–27% of patients achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) [2], and most stage II/III RC patients receive surgery or adjuvant therapy. Due to the different responses to CRT, management of the response to CRT is significant for LARC patients [3].
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