CTHRC1 is associated with <i>BRAF</i>(V600E) mutation and correlates with prognosis, immune cell infiltration, and drug resistance in colon cancer, thyroid cancer, and melanoma

Abstract

Colon cancer, thyroid cancer, and melanoma are common malignant tumors that seriously threaten human health globally. The B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF)(V600E) mutation is an important driver gene mutation in these cancer types. In this study, we identified that collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1) expression was associated with the BRAF(V600E) mutation in colon cancer, thyroid cancer, and melanoma. Based on database analysis and clinical tissue studies, CTHRC1 was verified to correlate with poor prognosis and worse clinicopathological features in colon cancer and thyroid cancer patients, but not in patients with melanoma. Several signaling pathways, immune cell infiltration, and immunotherapy markers were associated with CTHRC1 expression. Additionally, a high level of CTHRC1 was correlated with decreased sensitivity to antitumor drugs (vemurafenib, PLX-4720, dabrafenib, and SB-590885) targeting the BRAF(V600E) mutation. This study provides evidence of a significant correlation between CTHRC1 and the BRAF(V600E) mutation, suggesting its potential utility as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in human colon cancer, thyroid cancer, and melanoma.