WDR77 in Pan-Cancer: Revealing expression patterns, genetic insights, and functional roles across diverse tumor types, with a spotlight on colorectal cancer

Objective

Despite its involvement in regulating various cellular functions, the expression and role of WD repeat-containing protein 77 (WDR77) in cancer remain elusive. This study aims to explore the expression and potential roles of WDR77 across multiple cancers, with a particular focus on its relevance in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

We obtained WDR77 RNA-seq data, mutations, CNVs, and DNA methylation data from the TCGA, GTEx, and GEO databases to investigate its expression patterns and prognostic value. Additionally, we examined the correlation between WDR77 expression and somatic mutations, copy number variations, DNA methylation, and mRNA modifications. We utilized GSVA, GSEA algorithms, and CRISPR KO data from the Dependency Map database to explore WDR77′s potential biological functions. The association between WDR77 and the tumor immune microenvironment was investigated using ESTIMATE and IOBR algorithms. Finally, we assessed WDR77 expression in CRC and its impact on cell proliferation through qRT-PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, CCK8, colony formation, and EdU assays.

Results

WDR77 was upregulated in various tumors and correlated with poor patient prognosis. Its high expression positively correlated with pathways related to cell proliferation and negatively correlated with immune-related pathways. In CRC, WDR77 expression was associated with specific clinical features, genomic alterations, and immune microenvironment characteristics. Experimental validation confirmed upregulated WDR77 expression in CRC tissues and cells, with WDR77 knockdown significantly inhibiting CRC cell proliferation.

Conclusion

WDR77 holds potential as an oncogene and biological marker in various cancers, particularly CRC.