Fig. 4

Cross-dataset validation of important gene-KCNE4. (a) The results of TIMER2.0 analysis reveal significant correlations between KCNE4 expression and the infiltration of CAFs in various tumor tissues, which are represented by red and blue squares on the scatterplot, where red denotes significant positive correlations, while blue denotes significant negative correlations. b, c. The expression levels of KCNE4 in CCLE database were analyzed using a heat map (b) and box plot (c). (d, e). The association between KCNE4 expression and OS as well as DFS in TCGA-CRC cohort. (f-h). The analysis also showed a positive correlation between KCNE4 expression levels and tumor stage. (i) The expression differences of KCNE4 in age status. (j) KCNE4 expression differences in gender. (k) The KCNE4 expression levels in different cell types using five single-cell sequencing datasets from the GEO database in CRC. (l, m). The relationship between KCNE4 expression levels and the expression of CAFs marker genes FAP, ACTA2, and VIM utilizing the single-cell dataset from CRC_GSE146771. Data in bar graphs indicate mean ± SEM. ns: no significant, **P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001