The top five signaling pathways with the most significant enrichment were listed in Fig. 4E. It was found that keratinization, formation of the cornified envelope, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, extracellular matrix (ECM) regulators, and ECM affiliated were described as the most abundant pathways in CRC patients with high B7-H4 expression. Here, VTCN1 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.