biostudies-literatureUnknown14Budinska EStage II colon cancer (CC) encompasses a heterogeneous group of patients with diverse survival experiences: 87% to 58% 5-year relative survival rates for stages IIA and IIC, respectively. While stage IIA patients are usually spared the adjuvant chemotherapy, some of them relapse and may benefit from it; thus, their timely identification is crucial. Current gene expression signatures did not specifically target this group nor did they find their place in clinical practice. Since processes at invasion front have also been linked to tumor progression, we hypothesize that aside from bulk tumor features, focusing on the invasion front may provide additional clues for this stratification. A retrospective matched case-control collection of 39 stage IIA microsatellite-stable (MSS) untreated CCs waFrontiers in oncology1367231https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11066151biostudies-literatureAn invasion front gene expression signature for higher-risk patient selection in stage IIA MSS colon cancer.PMC11066151Boudna MMachackova TBencsikova BPopovici VCarnogurska MPifkova LSlaby OBudinska EIvkovic TCfalseAn invasion front gene expression signature for higher-risk patient selection in stage IIA MSS colon cancer.Stage II colon cancer (CC) encompasses a heterogeneous group of patients with diverse survival experiences: 87% to 58% 5-year relative survival rates for stages IIA and IIC, respectively. While stage IIA patients are usually spared the adjuvant chemotherapy, some of them relapse and may benefit from it; thus, their timely identification is crucial. Current gene expression signatures did not specifically target this group nor did they find their place in clinical practice. Since processes at invasion front have also been linked to tumor progression, we hypothesize that aside from bulk tumor features, focusing on the invasion front may provide additional clues for this stratification. A retrospective matched case-control collection of 39 stage IIA microsatellite-stable (MSS) untreated CCs wa2024-01-01T00:00:00Z20242026-06-02T07:02:34.879Z2026-04-15T03:15:39.408ZS-EPMC110661513870660810.3389/fonc.2024.1367231