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Using bioinformatics, researchers identified region-specific biomarkers—FGFR4, FLT1, and WNT5A—that drive distinct tumor behaviors and may serve as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.¹ Additionally, the researchers identified 2 promising drugs, dovitinib and nintedanib, which could enhance precision treatment strategies for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

The findings from this analysis are published in BMC Cell Communication and Signaling.

“By integrating bulk-RNA-[sequencing] data with secretome data, we developed an approach that enabled us to infer the process of cellular interaction in CRC through the construction of an interactome,” wrote the researchers of the study. “This analysis revealed the presence of distinct molecular markers depending on the tumor’s site of origin.”

Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is increasingly shaping precision medicine in CRC by revealing how specific genetic alterations influence prognosis and treatment decisions.² Using next-generation sequencing, CGP can analyze hundreds of cancer-related genes and key biomarkers in a single test, helping guide therapy selection, identify actionable mutations, and support enrollment in clinical trials. Although a recent study showed that CGP-guided therapies have not yet yielded significant survival advantage, mutations in TP53 and SMAD4 were linked to poorer outcomes, and PTEN alterations were associated with improved survival. These insights highlight the growing role of CGP in informing personalized CRC care and identifying potential targets for future drug development.

In this study, researchers analyzed gene expression data from the TCGA-COAD database, focusing on tumor location and purity to uncover molecular differences in CRC.¹ Using RNA-seq data, they identified region-specific ligands and receptors based on a reference secretome list, revealing key signaling pathways within the tumor microenvironment. The researchers then built an interactome to visualize these cell-to-cell interactions and pinpoint the most influential genes. Finally, survival analysis and drug susceptibility assessments were performed to evaluate the prognostic potential of these genes and identify candidate drugs for targeted CRC therapy.

Distinct molecular signatures were revealed between right- and left-sided CRCs, highlighting how tumor location influences biological behavior. Through integration of secretome data and interactome analysis, FGFR4, FLT1, and WNT5A emerged as key biomarkers linked to carcinogenesis, fibroblast recruitment, and cell division. These genes demonstrated strong diagnostic and prognostic potential, underscoring their role in tumor progression and treatment response. Importantly, drug analysis identified dovitinib and nintedanib as promising targeted therapies, as both agents interact with multiple biomarkers, offering new opportunities for personalized CRC treatment.

Overall, the researchers believe the study advances understanding of CRC by uncovering region-specific biomarkers that influence tumor behavior and therapeutic response. The identification of FGFR4, FLT1, and WNT5A as key molecular drivers provides a foundation for developing more precise diagnostic tools and personalized treatments. Moreover, the prediction of dovitinib and nintedanib as potential targeted therapies highlights opportunities to enhance treatment efficacy and overcome drug resistance. Together, these findings offer valuable insights into the tumor microenvironment and lay the groundwork for future experimental validation and clinical translation in CRC care.

“Nonetheless, the conclusions are constrained by the absence of experimental validation,” acknowledged the researchers. “Future investigations should incorporate comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies to substantiate the diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of these candidate genes and drugs. Such validation is essential to elucidate their mechanistic roles and to advance their clinical application in CRC management.”

References

1. Caxali GH, Aal MCE, Osvaldo CWG, et al. Integrating the secretome and interactome to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in colorectal cancer. Cell Commun Signal. 2025;23(1):428. doi:10.1186/s12964-025-02424-4

2. Steinzor P. Genomic profiling in colorectal cancer reveals prognostic markers. AJMC^®. September 11, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/genomic-profiling-in-colorectal-cancer-reveals-prognostic-markers

By Steve Gelsi and Greg Robb

While the economy seems to be chugging along, the list of possible threats appears to be getting longer as banks clock signs of tariff stress

Fifth Third Bank Chief Executive Tim Spence says his business clients are optimistic about the economy despite uncertainty over tariffs and other unknowns.

Bankers tend to use a variety of data points to gauge the state of the economy, depending on the institution and the individual doing the forecasting. And after this week’s stock-market drop for bank stocks, they’ve scoured every one of them.

Despite the customary optimism from banks as a way to encourage economic activity, this week’s earnings updates revealed that lenders continue to watch for key data points around tariffs impacting client costs, as well as some weakness in certain sectors – such as sluggish home construction and softness in the auto-financing business.

Banks are also increasing their scrutiny of their business-lending activities, after bank stocks sold off this week due to the fallout from high-profile bankruptcies at auto-parts seller First Brands and subprime auto lender Tricolor. But so far, they haven’t reported any alarming rises in delinquent loans, another key metric.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) Chief Executive Jamie Dimon raised the possibility of more “cockroaches” in the form of credit problems, which has banks studying their balance sheets.

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) Chief Executive Tim Spence summed up the current environment as “nauseous optimism” – a variation on the more common term, “cautious optimism.”

The nauseousness comes from tariff uncertainty that “absolutely continues to weigh” on some clients, he said. It’s a factor in more persistent inflation, which in turn impacts consumer spending and borrowing.

On the other hand, expected interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve are providing hope among businesses of improved demand and investment.

Clients that have put off capital improvements are now seeking loans, Spence noted.

“We are getting requests now for financing that are reflected in the pipeline in the middle-market business, in particular, to support that sort of shift from rent to own,” Spence said. “So I think that’s quite positive.”

The bank’s customers in the logistics business function as a “good bellwether” on the economy and have also been somewhat upbeat, he added.

“We’re hearing from logistics clients that there hasn’t exactly been a huge rebound, but that the activity has stabilized and is moving on the upswing,” Spence said, with help from businesses lifted by government infrastructure investments and AI-infrastructure efforts.

On the down side, however, has been residential construction and autos, according to Spence.

Credit problems appear to be idiosyncratic for now

Dimon’s comments about the possibility for more trouble in bank loans came up again Friday on an earnings call for Huntington Bancshares Inc. (HBAN), as the bank reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings.

“I’m obviously aware of Jamie’s comments this week, but I don’t see it broadly affecting the industry, and many of those who reported are suggesting the consumer is in relatively good shape,” said Huntington CEO Stephen Steinour. “We certainly are not seeing forward indicators in terms of delinquency or other measures.”

Bankers this week told MarketWatch that the U.S. economy is so complex, there’s no single indicator that would sum up the outlook for the consumer. Since economic downturns tend to crop up for a variety of reasons, it’s challenging at best to anticipate the most important data point among thousands.

“As we look at the data, we’re not seeing any imminent signs of a recession,” Zach Wasserman, Huntington’s chief financial officer, told MarketWatch. He said the bank uses a battery of both internal and external data to weigh economic strength on the horizon.

Unemployment remains a key macro factor, because if people can’t pay back their loans, banks’ credit will suffer. If more people lose their jobs, it’s widely expected to have a negative impact on bank credit.

To gauge the health of the consumer, banks also look at credit-card spending, as well as interest-rate changes in the U.S. Treasury market and corporate bond markets.

Bank balance sheets tend to benefit when the Treasury yield curve holds on to its historic shape of a steep yield curve. But signs that short-term rates may be dropping sharply could also signal a flattening of the yield curve, which is less favorable for banks.

Loan growth is another key metric, with Huntington Bank now forecasting 2025 loan growth of about 8%, up from its earlier estimate of 6% to 8%.

But questions continue to swirl around problems with collateral that caused Fifth Third to lose money on loans to Tricolor, while other lenders took losses on loans to First Brands.

Asked about banks’ credit strength this week, St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem said his understanding is that the credit concerns at regional banks appeared related to individual circumstances, and were not systemic or tied to general macroeconomic conditions.

Also read: Zions takes $50 million loan loss as another credit ‘cockroach’ appears. Regional-bank stocks are falling.

-Steve Gelsi -Greg Robb

This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

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Introductory Remarks at the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department Press Briefing

By Rodrigo Valdés, Director of the Western Hemisphere Department
2025 Annual Meetings

October 17, 2025

Over the past months, Latin America and the Caribbean have been navigating through shifting winds of a changing and uncertain global environment. Our Regional Economic Outlook discusses how the region has fared and the challenges ahead. Let me share a few highlights from our report.

Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean has experienced no major disruptions in the first half of 2025. It is projected to remain steady at 2.4 percent in 2025 and moderate slightly next year, with risks tilted to the downside.

Despite uncertainty, global conditions have been broadly supportive:

1. Commodity prices have stabilized after a brief period of volatility;
2. Financial conditions have eased amid declining sovereign spreads and a weaker US dollar; and
3. Regional exports have kept pace with global trends.

Labor markets remained robust, generally supporting private consumption in most economies. Low trade exposure of many economies to the United States and lower tariffs compared with other emerging economies have also provided buffers.

Against this background, macroeconomic policy calibration remains a challenge in several countries. While most countries are expected to strengthen their fiscal positions, structural primary balances are projected to be lower than anticipated, indicating unwelcome delays in fiscal consolidation.

In fact, with public debt ratios rising, fiscal consolidation is increasingly important to mitigate risks of decompression in risk premiums. Insufficient fiscal effort complicates not only debt sustainability but also the effectiveness of monetary policy—I will come back to this later.

On the monetary policy front, inflation remains above target in some countries, amid relatively balanced risks. While robust labor markets and fiscal concerns slow disinflation, recent exchange rate appreciation is helping in some cases.

Central banks have responded appropriately, remaining data driven, and inflation expectations are stable but also remain above targets. Continued caution is warranted, especially in cases where economic slack is not evident and inflation remains above targets.

Looking ahead, the region’s potential growth remains stuck in its low historical average and lagging its peers. This reflects slowing labor force expansion, low capital accumulation, and stagnant productivity.

This year’s report has undertaken two analytical studies to better understand some policy challenges.

One focuses on interactions between monetary and fiscal policies. Reforms to enhance central bank independence have helped achieve price stability. However, high public debt and deficits can constrain monetary policy. To safeguard price stability, countries must focus on advancing fiscal consolidation and improving fiscal frameworks. Lower debt levels make monetary policy more effective, aiding convergence to inflation targets.

The second investigates some drivers of low total factor productivity in the region. Exploring firm-level data, we show that this is partly explained by persistent resource misallocation and sluggish productivity growth among firms. More productive firms face barriers to expand, which calls for reforms to address frictions—including size-based regulations, financial constraints, and limited competition.

The Fund remains closely engaged with the region through policy advice, capacity development, and financial support.

In terms of program engagement, since April, Barbados completed its arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility, and a new Flexible Credit Line (FCL) has been launched with Costa Rica, while Colombia canceled its FCL.

To sum up, the global landscape is shifting, but this is no reason for inaction. As the saying goes, countries may not control the winds, but they can adjust their sails. Reinforcing policy frameworks, rebuilding fiscal buffers, and fostering growth opportunities are the sails to adjust.

Before returning to Julie, let me also remind you that I will be leaving the Western Hemisphere Department by the end of this month, moving to the Fiscal Affairs Department. WHD new director will be Nigel Chalk – sitting here – who already supervises several countries and activities and guarantees a seamless transition.