Identification of COX4I2 as a hypoxia-associated gene acting through FGF1 to promote EMT and angiogenesis in CRC.

Background: Current evidence suggests that the hypoxic tumor microenvironment further aggravates tumor progression, leading to poor therapeutic outcomes. There is as yet no biomarker capable of evaluating the hypoxic state of the tumor. The cytochrome c oxidase (COX) subunit is crucial to the mitochondrial respiratory chain.