Integrative Analysis of Gene Expression Based on Multi-Omics Databases Identified CXC Chemokines as Immune Prognostic Biomarkers of Rectal Adenocarcinoma

Background: Rectal adenocarcinoma (READ) is one of the most frequent malignancies with a high recurrence rate. CXC chemokines, as indispensable components of the immune system, are considered broadly involving in tumorigenesis by orchestrating the immune cell chemotaxis and thus affect the prognosis of READ patients. However, the values of CXC chemokines as prognostic biomarkers and potential regulatory mechanisms for READ remain unclear.Results: The expression levels of CXCL3, CXCL12, and CXCL13 were aberrant in both TCGA and ONCOMINE databases. Lower expression of CXCL3 and CXCL13 predicted poor survival of READ patients. Additionally, both CXCL3 and CXCL13 were associated with several clinicopathological features. CXCL3 and CXCL13 expressions were significantly correlated with the tumor infiltration levels of immune cells in READ tissue. CeRNA networks of mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA were constructed to reveal the potential mechanisms that regulated the expressions of CXCL3 and CXCL13. Furthermore, GSEA revealed the association between immune-related pathways and CXCL3 as well as CXCL13.Conclusions: CXCL3 and CXCL13 could be valuable prognostic biomarkers in READ. CXCL3/miR-425-5p/chr22-38_28785274–29006793.1 was identified as the most potential ceRNA network in READ. Our results might provide novel insights in READ immunotherapy.