Downregulation of CMTM4 and Its Tumor-Suppressive Role in Colorectal Cancer: Insights From Expression and Survival Analyses.

Background: CMTM4 (CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain containing 4), a member of chemokine-like factor gene super-family, has been identified as a potential tumor suppressor gene in several malignancies and is implicated in biological processes such as tumor cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration. However, the role of CMTM4 in colorectal cancer remains unspecified.

Methods: The expression level of CMTM4 in colorectal malignant tissues were analyzed, and correlations between CMTM4 expression and clinicopathological features were analyzed in individuals with colorectal cancer. Bioinformatic analysis of CMTM4 expression in colorectal cancer and adjacent normal tissues was conducted using Oncomine and GenomicScape. Correlation analyses between CMTM4 and the genes MYC and CDKN2A were conducted using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data set. The relationship between CMTM4 expression and overall survival in individuals with colorectal cancer was analyzed using TCGA and Gene Expression Omnibus datasets. Immunohistochemical images of CMTM4 protein expression were obtained from the Human Protein Atlas database.

Results: CMTM4 expression was significantly downregulated in colorectal cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. A positive correlation was observed between CMTM4 and CDKN2A expression, whereas a negative correlation was observed between CMTM4 and MYC expression. Higher CMTM4 expression levels were associated with improved survival time in individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer, indicating its tumor-suppressive role within the CMTM family.

Conclusions: CMTM4 is often downregulated in colorectal cancer and exhibits tumor-suppressive properties. These findings indicate that CMTM4 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.