We found that group III had the highest expression of ICs in both TCGA and GSE39582 cohorts (Fig. 5c-d), including PDL1, TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, and VISTA. We then used subclass mapping to measure the similarity of expression profiles between the three CRC subgroups and a public cohort for melanoma patients treated with checkpoint blockades against CTLA4 or PD-1 [35]. Here, VSIR is linked to colorectal carcinoma.