ELK1 and cancer: Regarding TME, a recent study (2025) by Chen et al., analyzed 751,531 single-cell transcriptomes, spatial transcriptomics, and snMultiomes from 142 multistage samples and revealed that the expression of Galactin-9/Lectin galactoside-binding soluble 9 (LGALS9), which is regulated by ELK1, promotes the transformation of fibroblasts near CRC tumors, into cancer-associated fibroblasts, further fueling TME remodeling and tumor progression [127].