Hazelwood Emma, Canson Daffodil M, Deslandes Benedita, Wang Xuemin, Kho Pik Fang, Legge Danny, Constantinescu Andrei-Emil, Lee Matthew A, Bishop D Timothy, Chan Andrew T, Gruber Stephen B, Hampe Jochen, Le Marchand Loic, Woods Michael O, Pai Rish K, Schmit Stephanie L, Figueiredo Jane C, Zheng Wei, Huyghe Jeroen R, Murphy Neil, Gunter Marc J, Richardson Tom G, Whitehall Vicki L J, Vincent Emma E, Glubb Dylan M, O'Mara Tracy A
MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Nat Commun. 2025 May 30;16(1):5043. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60275-6.
Genome-wide association studies have suggested numerous colorectal cancer (CRC) susceptibility genes, but their causality and therapeutic potential remain unclear. To prioritise causal associations between gene expression/splicing and CRC risk (52,775 cases; 45,940 controls), we perform a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) across six tissues with Mendelian randomisation and colocalisation, integrating sex- and anatomical subsite-specific analyses. Here we reveal 37 genes with robust causal links to CRC risk, ten of which have not previously been reported by TWAS. Most likely causal genes with evidence of cancer cell dependency show elevated expression linked to risk, suggesting therapeutic potential. Notably, SEMA4D, encoding a protein targeted by an investigational CRC therapy, emerges as a key risk gene. We also identify a female-specific association with CRC risk for CCM2 expression and subsite-specific associations, including LAMC1 with rectal cancer risk. These findings offer valuable insights into CRC molecular mechanisms and support promising therapeutic avenues.
全基因组关联研究已经提出了众多结直肠癌(CRC)易感基因,但其因果关系和治疗潜力仍不明确。为了确定基因表达/剪接与CRC风险之间的因果关联(52775例病例;45940例对照),我们通过孟德尔随机化和共定位在六个组织中进行了全转录组关联研究(TWAS),整合了性别和解剖亚部位特异性分析。在此,我们揭示了37个与CRC风险有稳健因果联系的基因,其中10个此前未被TWAS报道。有癌细胞依赖性证据的最可能的因果基因显示与风险相关的表达升高,提示其治疗潜力。值得注意的是,编码一种正在研究的CRC治疗靶向蛋白的SEMA4D成为一个关键风险基因。我们还确定了CCM2表达与CRC风险的女性特异性关联以及亚部位特异性关联,包括LAMC1与直肠癌风险的关联。这些发现为CRC分子机制提供了有价值的见解,并支持了有前景的治疗途径。