Fig. 1: Elevated RANK expression is associated with poor survival in CRC.

a RANK mRNA levels in CRC tissues and normal colorectal tissues were detected by analyzing the dataset GEPIA. *P < 0.05. b Representative images of different grades of RANK staining intensity were shown in CRC tissues. Staining results were classified as − (score 0), + (score 1–4), ++ (score 4–8), and +++ (score 9–12). IgG was the negative control for staining. NC negative control. c Representative RANK IHC staining in CRC tissues (stage I, stage II, stage III, and stage IV) and matched normal tissues far away (>10 cm) from the malignant lesion. d Characterization of RANK expression in CRC tissues and closely adjacent para-carcinoma tissues in eight patients (P1–P8). e Distribution of RANK expression in CRC tissues and matched normal tissues (P < 0.0001). f Percentage of RANK expression in CRC tumors within individual TNM stage (P < 0.0001). g Kaplan–Meier analysis of overall survival in CRC patients. h Kaplan–Meier analysis of disease-free survival in CRC patients. i Western blotting of RANK protein expressions in eight paired tumor and normal tissue samples. The tumor/normal ratios of RANK were quantified using the ImageJ software. Expression levels were normalized with GAPDH. T human CRC tissues, N paired normal colorectal tissues. Scales bars = 200 μm (100×), 100 μm (200×), and 50 μm (400×).