GDF5 and colorectal carcinoma: A LASSO regression analysis was performed on the 20 hub genes from the CRC patient cohort, and 9 characteristic genes associated with lymph node metastasis were screened, including KIF1A, TMEM59L, CLCA1, COL9A3, GDF5, TUBB2B, STMN2, FOXN1, and SCN5A (Figure 5(a)).