In silico analysis and validation of the cancer-associated fibroblasts-related gene CAMK4 promotes bladder cancer progression

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background:</bold>Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are crucial in the regulation of cancer cell biological properties through complex and dynamic communication networks. However, the mechanism of action of CAFs in bladder cancer (BCa) remains elusive. <bold>Results:</bold>This study integrated transcriptome data from multiple datasets and constructed an ensemble of genes associated with CAFs through a series of algorithms. It further categorized BCa into two molecular subtypes, distinguished by their immune cell infiltration and immune-related characteristics. CAMK4 was subsequently selected for further validation, and it was found that CAMK4 promoted the tumor-promoting ability of BCa specifically in terms of proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities and also facilitated the development of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). <bold>Conclusions: </bold>To sum up, our signature and its derived subtype facilitates a more accurate identification of potential candidates for immunotherapy among BCa patients. In addition, CAMK4 may be a promising target for BCa therapy.