Elevated CDK5R1 expression associated with poor prognosis, proliferation, and drug resistance in colorectal and breast malignancies: CDK5R1 as an oncogene in cancers

Background: Studies have shown that the CDK5R1 gene could have a part in some types of cancer. This study sought to examine the relationship between CDK5R1 expression and prognosis and medication resistance in 13 commonly occurring cancers.

Method: The cancer genome atlas data and clinical data were utilized to assess the role of CDK5R1 in malignancies. The expression data of 13 cancers were also integrated and used for the co-expression network. The relationship between CDK5R1 expression and drug resistance and sensitivity was evaluated using pharmacogenomics data. The colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer (BC) were used to confirm the results through the RT-qPCR method.

Results: With the exception of gastric cancer, all common malignancies showed an increase in CDK5R1 expression. Also, outcomes of sensitivity and specificity showed that CDK5R1 level could be a really good potential biomarker. Additionally, CDK5R1 expression was higher in CRC and BC samples compared to adjacent normal, according to RT-qPCR data. In six types of tumors and combined data, a poor prognosis was associated with increased CDK5R1 expression. The CDK5R1-associated genes were connected to the primary oncogenic pathways in cancer cells, according to the co-expression network. Also, CDK5R1 level was significantly linked to the resistance and sensitivity of several chemotherapy drugs and caused the highest resistance to cyclophosphamide.

Conclusion: CDK5R1 expression is upregulated in 12 prevalent cancers and can play an oncogenic role. Also, this gene's expression could be used as a biomarker to predict patient survival and medication resistance.