An Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Hallmark Gene-Based Risk Score System in Head and Neck Squamous-Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program plays a critical role in cancer. Thus, we attempted to generate a risk score system according to the expression pattern of different EMT hallmark genes in head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSC).

METHODS

Differentially expressed EMT hallmark genes were screened to generate a risk score (RS) on TCGA HNSC dataset. The relative prognostic value of the compared to clinicopathological characteristics was explored using multivariable Cox analysis. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to reveal the biological characteristics. An external dataset was applied to validate the prognostic value of the .

RESULTS

Nine genes constituted the EMT hallmark gene-based , which is significantly associated with poor prognosis and could successfully divide patients with HNSC into high- and low-risk groups. The was also an independent prognostic indicator compared to routine clinical factors.

CONCLUSION

We proposed and validated a nine-EMT hallmark gene-based risk score system in HNSC.