Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Colon cancer is one of the most common gastrointestinal malignancies. According to the traditional view, the primary modes of transmission include direct dissemination, hematogenous metastasis, and lymph node metastasis. In recent years, the role of perineural invasion (PNI) in the spread and metastasis of tumors has received immense attention. However, there are still relatively few reports on the potential mechanisms and biomarkers of PNI occurrence and development in colon cancer. METHOD: We identified genes linked to the onset and progression of PNI in colon cancer using bioinformatics tools and extensive databases. Gene function enrichment analysis was used to explore the potential roles of these genes in tumor proliferation, invasion, and PNI. A collection of postoperative pathological specimens from colon cancer patients who underwent surgery, related clinicopathological data, and immunohistochemistry were used to validate AGRN expression in PNI tissues. RESULTS: Bioinformatics analysis revealed that AGRN is overexpressed in colon cancer tissues and correlates with poor patient prognosis. The findings from gene association and enrichment studies indicate that AGRN and its associated genes may play a role in PNI development and progression in colon cancer by simultaneously enhancing tumor cell invasion and neural cell growth. Immunohistochemical analysis of clinical samples confirmed that AGRN expression is elevated in colon cancer tissues with PNI. CONCLUSION: We found that AGRN is significantly overexpressed in colon cancer tissues exhibiting PNI and is linked to poor patient survival. AGRN and its related genes may contribute to PNI by promoting tumor cell invasion and neural cell growth. Hence, AGRN may play a crucial role in the initiation and progression of PNI in colon cancer.