A pan-cancer analysis of the oncogenic role of procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer (PCOLCE) in human

Abstract

There is no evidence showing that the expression of procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer (PCOLCE) is associated with human tumors, and pan-cancer analysis is not available. Based on public databases such as the cancer genome atlas, we investigated the potential role of PCOLCE expression in 33 different human tumors. PCOLCE expression in 11 tumors was significantly correlated with tumor prognosis and was a prognostic predictor for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, thymoma and CES. We also found that PCOLCE expression correlated with the immune microenvironment of tumors and the level of cancer-associated fibroblast infiltration. PCOLCE is a potential predictor of small molecule targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Finally, we found by enrichment analysis that PCOLCE localizes to extracellular structures and the extracellular matrix and exerts substantial effects on tumors through the PI3K-Akt and AGE-RAGE signaling pathways. We have a preliminary and relatively comprehensive understanding of the role of PCOLCE in various tumors.