CLEC11A as a potential biomarker for prognosis and response to immunotherapy in colon adenocarcinoma

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) ranks among the most prevalent malignancies. C-type lectin domain family 11 member A (CLEC11A) plays a role in the initiation and progression of various cancers. However, its involvement in COAD remains unclear. This study reveals that CLEC11A expression is significantly elevated in COAD tissues compared to normal counterparts. Moreover, higher CLEC11A levels correlate with advanced T and N stages as well as pathological stage. Survival analysis further indicates that elevated CLEC11A expression is linked to poor prognosis. Cox regression analysis identifies CLEC11A as an independent prognostic factor for unfavorable survival outcomes. Additionally, increased CLEC11A expression shows a positive association with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint markers. CLEC11A-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were also identified, and functional enrichment analyses were conducted to elucidate the biological roles of CLEC11A. Unsupervised cluster analysis of these DEGs across distinct subgroups was also performed. In conclusion, CLEC11A has the potential as both a prognostic biomarker and a modulator of immune responses in COAD.