Abstract
Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a highly prevalent and life-threatening disease with multi-stage progression, characterized by diverse molecular expression patterns at distinct stages, making treatment particularly challenging. Early detection and diagnosis of CRC are vital and can greatly benefit from the discovery of effective biomarkers. Researchers have identified novel gene signatures that play pivotal roles in specific CRC types or stages. Leucine Zipper Tumor Suppressor Family Member 3 (LZTS3), a well-known tumor suppressor in several cancer types such as lung carcinoma, has sparked interest. However, our comprehensive in silico studies revealed a contrasting role for LZTS3 in CRC. We found that LZTS3 was highly expressed in CRC cases and associated with poor clinical outcomes. Gene enrichment analyses indicated that LZTS3 expression levels correlate with immune checkpoint inhibition, emphasizing the therapeutic potential of LZTS3 for colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD). In conclusion, our results suggest a potential oncogenic role of LZTS3 in colorectal cancers, challenging previous perceptions of its function. Further research is needed to explore the precise mechanisms underlying this unexpected role and its implications for CRC diagnosis and therapy.