To explore the core gene modules and molecular target in the process of colorectal cancer liver metastasis and to verify its impact on clinical prognosis and colorectal cancer metastasis ability.

Based on the sequencing samples of colorectal cancer liver metastasis in GEO database, WGCNA was used to screen metastasis-related gene modules. Using MCODE software to further explore the core sub-modules and analyze their function. TCGA database was used to analysis the effect of the target gene on the survival rate of colorectal cancer patients. Using molecular biology methods to verify the effect of sub-module genes on the migration and invasion of HCT116.

A total of 5 modules were identified, and module 1 was closely related to colorectal cancer liver metastasis. Module 1 included 4 core sub-modules. The function of the sub-modules included adenylate cyclase-inhibiting G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway, epigenetic regulation, mRNA splicing and so on. Large clinical sample verification found that the FOXC1 gene in sub-module 4 was closely related to the survival rate of colon cancer patients. After knocking down the expression of FOXC1 in HCT116 cells, the migration (t=3.123, P=0.035) and invasion (t=2.936, P=0.043) of HCT116 was significantly inhibited.

The sub-modules related to liver metastasis of colon cancer screened in this study may have an important role in promoting metastasis. The sub-module gene FOXC1 is associated with the poor prognosis of colon cancer patients and promotes colon cancer metastasis.