Lipid metabolism and endoplasmic reticulum stress exhibit crosstalk in various cancer types, which are closely associated with the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study constructs a prognostic signature based on lipid metabolism and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes (LERGs) for CRC patients, aiming to predict the prognosis and immune response. RNA sequencing and clinical data from the TCGA and GEO databases were analyzed to identify differentially expressed LERGs with prognostic relevance using univariate Cox regression. Subsequently, a risk model was developed using the LASSO regression. CRC patients were stratified into low-risk and high-risk groups based on risk scores, with the high-risk cohort demonstrating a poorer clinical prognosis in multiple databases. The risk model showed robust correlations with clinical features, gene mutations, and treatment sensitivity. Significant differences in immune cell infiltration and the expression of immune-related factors were also detected between risk groups, and elevated scores of cytokines and failure factors were detected in single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. This research indicates that lipid metabolism and endoplasmic reticulum stress in CRC are correlated with tumor progression, an immunosuppressive landscape, and alterations of drug sensitivity. The developed risk model can serve as a powerful prognostic tool, offering critical insights for refining clinical management and optimizing treatment in CRC patients.
Keywords: colorectal cancer; drug sensitivity; endoplasmic reticulum stress; immune infiltration; immunotherapy; lipid metabolism; prognostic prediction model.