A telomere-associated molecular landscape reveals immunological, microbial, and therapeutic heterogeneity in colorectal cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks among the most prevalent malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Although telomere biology has been increasingly implicated in immune modulation and tumor progression, its clinical significance in CRC remains poorly understood.

Methods

We developed a telomere score, termed TELscore, by integrating transcriptomic and intratumoral microbiome profiles from publicly available colorectal cancer (CRC) cohorts. To comprehensively characterize TELscore subgroups, we performed pathway enrichment analysis, tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) profiling, and microbiome niche assessment. Whole-slide histopathological images (WSIs) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were uti

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12146184 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature