Fig. 3

Close association among UTUC-specific differential pathways. A ssGSEA analysis shows a positive correlation in two large-sample UTUC datasets (GSE166912, GSE47702): Proteoglycans pathway, cell adhesion molecules pathway, and extracellular matrix molecules pathway. B-C UTUC-specific differential genes in the three specific pathways. D Proteoglycans exhibit diversity, exist in different structures of tumour cells, and participate in tumour proliferation, migration, and invasion. E–F Co-expression analysis reveals a close association among most UTUC-specific differential genes in the three specific pathways. G Few common genes between Proteoglycans pathway and cell adhesion molecules pathway. H Association analysis of UTUC-specific differential genes in the Proteoglycans pathway and cell adhesion molecules pathway using the String database, and top 10 associations are analyzed with Cytoscape to identify Hub genes. I Few common genes between Proteoglycans pathway and extracellular matrix molecules pathway. J Association analysis of UTUC-specific differential genes in the Proteoglycans pathway and extracellular matrix molecules pathway using the String database, and top 10 associations are analyzed with Cytoscape to identify Hub genes