IL17A and neoplasm: By integrating bioinformatics and machine learning approaches, we identified 593 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in CRC, with exosome-related genes prominently enriched in pathways driving tumor progression (gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma), immunosuppression (IL-17/NF-κB signaling), and metabolic reprogramming (cysteine and methionine metabolism).