Integrative Analysis of Single-Cell and Bulk RNA Sequencing Reveals Oxidative Stress Signatures for Prognostic and Therapeutic Prediction in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifaceted ailment with inadequately comprehended molecular processes requiring the discovery of genetic indicators. The management of oxidative stress (OS) is vital in tumor progression and reactions to antineoplastic treatments, given that numerous signaling cascades associated with oncogenesis can influence reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. Nevertheless, the interplay among OS, the immune microenvironment of tumors, and CRC advancement remains incompletely elucidated. In our investigation, we employed information obtained from both bulk RNA-seq and single-cell RNA-seq analyses to explore these interconnections. By constructing a model based on gene expression related to OS, we observed that samples with high OS scores had poorer survival outcomes and chemotherapy efficacy compared to samples with low scores. Our findings suggest that OS is associated with CRC aggressiveness, interacts with immune cells, and may offer insights for novel chemotherapy strategies.