# Comprehensive analysis of KLHL35 expression and its prognostic value in cancer: implications for colorectal cancer diagnosis and therapy

## TL;DR

This study shows that KLHL35 is overexpressed in multiple cancers, including colorectal cancer, and may serve as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis.

## Contribution

The study identifies KLHL35 as a novel biomarker with diagnostic and therapeutic potential in colorectal cancer.

## Key findings

- KLHL35 is significantly overexpressed in 13 cancer types, including colorectal cancer.
- High KLHL35 expression correlates with poor survival outcomes in cancer patients.
- In vitro experiments confirm KLHL35's role in promoting cancer cell proliferation and migration.

## Abstract

This study investigates the expression patterns and clinical relevance of KLHL35 (Kelch-Like Family Member 35) across various cancer types, with a focus on colorectal cancer. Comprehensive analysis of RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and protein expression data from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) revealed significant overexpression of KLHL35 in 13 tumor types, including colorectal cancer. Increased KLHL35 expression was associated with poor clinical outcomes, including overall survival (OS), progression-free interval (PFI), and disease-specific survival (DSS). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis suggested promising but exploratory diagnostic value for KLHL35, with area under the curve (AUC) values exceeding 0.9 in colorectal cancer. Functional enrichment analyses suggested potential associations between KLHL35 and cell cycle/apoptosis pathways, while immune infiltration correlations hinted at a possible role in immune microenvironment remodeling. In vitro assays confirmed KLHL35’s role in promoting cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. These findings suggest that KLHL35 could serve as a valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target, particularly in colorectal cancer. While these findings nominate KLHL35 as a candidate for therapeutic targeting, further mechanistic studies are required to validate its function.”

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12672-025-03715-5.