There was a significant association between NOTCH3 levels and tumor purity (cor = − 0.267, P = 4.26e-08), CD4 + T cell (cor = − 0.623, P = 1.39e−44), macrophage (cor = − 0.524, P = 6.55e−30), neutrophil (cor = 0.4, P = − 7.74e−17) and dendritic cell infiltration (cor = − 0.462, P = 1.13e−22) in COAD (Fig. 4A). This evidence concerns the gene CD4 and neoplasm.