An IGF2-anchored oncofetal state and relapse-associated transcriptomic module define systemic progression risk in early-onset colorectal cancer

Abstract

The epidemiological surge of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is characterized by accelerated biological kinetics and disproportionately high rates of systemic relapse following curative-intent surgery. Because standard anatomical staging (TNM) lacks the resolution to accurately capture the intrinsic regenerative capacity of microscopic residual disease, we investigated the transcriptomic architecture of post-surgical failure in a strictly defined, curative-intent clinical pan-cohort. Unbiased transcriptomic profiling of the localized (M0) discovery sub-cohort identified IGF2 as the most significantly upregulated correlate of metachronous relapse. High-resolution isoform analysis revealed that this transcriptional output is predominantly driven by the embryonic (P4) and placental (P5) promoters. Systematic allele-specific expression (ASE) analysis supported widespread biallelic IGF2 expression consistent with relaxation of imprinting-domain control. This signal was not restricted to relapsing tumors, suggesting a recurrence-independent oncofetal baseline across the EOCRC spectrum. Because this foundational epigenetic unlocking is functionally insufficient on its own to execute systemic metastasis, we distilled the additional transcriptional plasticity required for dissemination into an internally derived and bootstrap-stabilized 5-gene recurrence-risk module Multivariable analysis across the combined pan-cohort supported an independent association between the high-risk module and systemic relapse (p < 0.001), capturing prognostic dimensions completely unresolved by classical pathological covariates and baseline staging. Ultimately, our findings reframe EOCRC aggressiveness as the product of a dual-hit architecture. This framework resolves the clinical paradox of widespread IGF2 LOI co-existing with heterogeneous outcomes, offering a biologically grounded basis for molecular risk stratification beyond anatomical boundaries.