|
A p53 Pathway-Based Eight-Gene Prognostic Signature for Risk Stratification and Survival Prediction in Colorectal Cancer: A TCGA-COAD Transcriptomic Analysis
|
Mohammad Zand *   , Maryam Peymani , Leila Rouhi , Ali Salehzadeh |
|
|
|
Abstract: (3 Views) |
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health challenge, ranking among the leading causes of cancer incidence and mortality despite continuous advances in diagnosis and treatment. Because alterations in the TP53 signaling pathway play a central role in colorectal tumorigenesis by regulating genomic stability, apoptosis, and cell-cycle control, genes involved in this pathway may serve as valuable prognostic indicators. This study aimed to establish a TP53 pathway-derived gene signature for predicting survival outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer.
Methods: Transcriptomic profiles together with corresponding clinical information from 461 patients with primary colon adenocarcinoma in the TCGA-COAD cohort were analyzed. After filtering and TMM normalization of RNA-sequencing data, 200 TP53 pathway genes obtained from the MSigDB Hallmark collection were screened using univariate Cox proportional hazards analysis. Eight prognostically relevant genes (VWA5A, SLC35D1, KLF4, RGS16, INHBB, FUCA1, KIF13B, and CDKN2A) were integrated into a risk-scoring model. Patients were subsequently categorized into low- and high-risk groups according to the median risk score. Model performance was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, Cox regression, time-dependent ROC analysis, and differential gene-expression testing.
Results: Patients assigned to the high-risk group experienced significantly shorter overall survival than those in the low-risk group (log-rank p < 0.001). The calculated risk score remained significantly associated with survival outcome (HR > 1, p < 0.001), indicating its prognostic relevance. Predictive accuracy was supported by 12-month AUC values ranging from 0.75 to 0.85. Moreover, all eight genes displayed significant expression differences between the two risk groups, with KLF4 and FUCA1 exhibiting the strongest differential expression.
Conclusions: The proposed TP53 pathway-based eight-gene model effectively stratifies colorectal cancer patients according to survival risk and represents a promising transcriptomic biomarker for prognostic assessment. Nevertheless, independent external validation and experimental investigations are required before its potential clinical application can be fully established. |
|
| Keywords: Colorectal cancer, p53 pathway, prognostic signature, risk stratification, TCGA-COAD |
|
|
Full-Text [PDF 472 kb]
(2 Downloads)
|
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Human Genetics
Received: 2026/05/4 | Accepted: 2026/07/23 | Published: 2025/11/19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Send email to the article author |
|
|
|
| Add your comments about this article |
|
|
|
