ABSTRACT
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies of the digestive system. Recent studies have revealed the importance of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in tumorigenesis, but their role in CRC remains unclear. The present study systematically analyzed the relationships between RBPs and CRC using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. We detected 483 differentially expressed RBPs and identified a series of pathways and processes using GO (Gene Ontology) analysis and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway analysis. Analyzing protein-protein interactions and modules identified the edges and modules of RBPs. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were then used to construct a prognostic model that included 13 RBPs. Survival analyses indicated that the overall survival (OS) was significantly lower for CRC patients in the high-risk group than for those in the low-risk group, and that high risk scores were associated with poor OS. Finally, we constructed a nomogram that included 13 RBPs for calculating the estimated survival probabilities of CRC patients at 1, 2, and 3 years. Calibration plots indicated good conformity between the predicted and observed outcomes. This study has revealed that the expression of RBPs differs between CRC and normal tissues. A prognostic model based on 13 RBP coding genes has been developed that can provide independent prognoses of CRC.