Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the molecular links and mechanisms between Crohn's disease (CD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: This study used the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CD (GSE112366) and CRC (GSE110224), analyzed by 'edgeR' and 'limma'. The Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes explored DEG functions, and the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) informed the protein-protein interaction network construction visualized in Cytoscape (version 3.7.2). Cyto-Hubba identified key genes, whose biomarker potential for CD and CRC was evaluated. RESULTS: The study discovered 61 DEGs, with 44 up- and 17 down-regulated, linked to immune responses and signaling pathways. CXCL1, highly expressed in colon cancer, correlated with better prognosis and lower staging. It also showed associations with immune infiltration and checkpoint molecules, suggesting a role in cancer progression and retreat. CONCLUSION: CXCL1 may play a role in the development of colorectal cancer from inflammatory bowel disease.