Analysis of Prognostic Value, Immune Escape Significance and Ferroptosis Correlation of Ubiquitination-related Genes UBTD1 in Colorectal Carcinogenesis

Abstract Immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint inhibitors is currently a hot topic of investigation in the therapy of colorectal cancer (CRC). The most reliable predictors of immune effectiveness are, at present, microsatellite instability (MSI) and mismatch repair gene status (MMR).In contrast, other immune efficacy predictors remain desirable to facilitate individualized immunotherapy for CRC patients. Ubiquitination and its associated ubiquitin-binding enzymes and ligases regulate the tumor microenvironment and antitumor immunity to mediate tumor pathogenesis and progression. Here, we examined the molecular characteristics and immunomodulatory effects of ubiquitination-associated genes mediating the prognosis of CRC cancer. UBTD1 was identified as a significant prognostic, predictive gene for CRC, involved in regulating the immune checkpoint levels and immune cell function of CRC patients. Briefly, high expression of UBTD1 tended to enhance the presence of immune checkpoints to induce immune escape and inhibit the onset of ferroptosis. Our study demonstrated that UBTD1 was a prognostic marker for CRC in the regulation of ubiquitination and the tumor immune microenvironment and may serve as a predictor of immune efficacy and a modulator of resistance to immune checkpoint suppressive therapies.