Expression Pattern of AIFM3, VGLL4, and WNT4 in Patients with Different Stages of Colorectal Cancer
Simple Summary This research considers means of improving the early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), a common and deadly form of cancer often identified too late for effective treatment. In our study, we examined AIFM3, VGLL4, and WNT4 in cancerous and healthy tissues at various stages of CRC. We found that these markers behave differently as the cancer advances. AIFM3 appears in healthy tissue and early cancer stages but disappears as the cancer worsens. VGLL4 increases in the affected tissues as the cancer progresses, particularly noticeable from early to more advanced stages. WNT4 is higher in cancerous tissues, but decreases in the supportive tissue surrounding cancer cells as the disease advances. Low VGLL4 levels are linked to better patient survival, unlike the other two markers. This finding suggests that VGLL4 could be useful as an indicator of CRC prognosis, potentially guiding treatment approaches.