Anoikis disrupts the normal apoptotic process in cells, leading to abnormal proliferation and migration, thereby promoting tumor formation and development. However, the role of anoikis in bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) still requires further exploration.
Anoikis-related genes (ARGs) were retrieved from the GeneCards and Harmonizome databases to distinguish various subtypes of BLCA and develop a predictive model for BLCA. The immune microenvironment and enrichment pathways between various subtypes were also analyzed using consensus clustering. Potential medications were screened by utilizing drug sensitivity analysis.
One hundred thirty differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and nine of them were chosen to construct predictive models that can accurately forecast the prognosis of BLCA patients. K = 2 was correctly identified as the optimal clustering type for BLCA, showing prominent differences in survival rates between the two subgroups. The immune-related functional studies manifested that the two subtypes’ immune cell expressions differed. It was verified that RAC3 is an independent prognostic gene for BLCA. RAC3 shows high expression levels in BLCA, as indicated by its consistent mRNA and protein levels across different gene expressions. The functional verification results of RAC3 in BLCA showed that silencing RAC3 can significantly inhibit BLCA cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration. RAC3 knockdown inhibited the growth and migration of BLCA
Based on the predictive model developed in this study, BLCA patients’ prognoses can be accurately predicted. SB505124 could become an important drug in the treatment of BLCA patients. RAC3 is essential in prognosis, immune microenvironment, and malignant behavior of BLCA