Hypermethylation and downregulation of UTP6 are associated with stemness properties, chemoradiotherapy resistance and prognosis in rectal cancer: A co-expression network analysis

To measure global gene expression in primary locally advanced rectal cancer patients who have undergone CRT and screen valuable biomarkers to predict the effects of CRT.Samples fromprimary locally advanced rectal cancer patients were collected. The effects of chemoradiotherapy were evaluated. All patients underwent standard CRT after signing the chemoradiotherapy agreement; subsequently, they were evaluated in accordance with the AJCC tumor regression grade (TRG).Each samplewas collected before CRT. Each sample was stored in liquid nitrogen until total RNA extraction.