Yang Yizhou, Cai Zeman, Huang Kaichun, Li Mei, Wang Xiao, Lin Yinbing, Chen Sijie, Yang Zhining, Lin Zhixiong
Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Research Center of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
Front Genet. 2023 Feb 9;14:1061569. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1061569. eCollection 2023.
Immunotherapy has been demonstrated favorable in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Studies indicated that immune-related gene prognostic index (IRGPI) was a robust signature, and N-methyladenosine (mA) methylation had a significant impact on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and immunotherapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Thus, combining indicated that immune-related gene prognostic index with mA status should offer a better predictive power for immune responses. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma samples from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA, = 498) and gene expression omnibus database (GSE65858, = 270) were used in this study. Cox regression analysis was used to construct the indicated that immune-related gene prognostic index through immune-related hub genes which were identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The mA risk score was constructed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Principal component analysis was used to construct a composite score, and systematically correlate subgroups according to tumor immune microenvironment cell-infiltrating characteristics. A composite score was determined based on indicated that immune-related gene prognostic index and mA risk score. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients in the cancer genome atlas were divided into four subgroups: A (IRGPI-High&mA-risk-High, = 127), B (IRGPI-High&mA-risk-Low, = 99), C (IRGPI-Low&mA-risk-High, = 99), and D (IRGPI-Low&mA-risk-Low, = 128), and overall survival (OS) was significantly different between subgroups ( < 0.001). The characteristics of tumor immune microenvironment cell infiltration in the four subgroups were significantly different in subgroups ( < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves show the predictive value of composite score for overall survival was superior to other scores. The composite score is a promising prognostic signature which might distinguish immune and molecular characteristics, predict prognosis, and guide more effective immunotherapeutic strategies for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
免疫疗法已在头颈部鳞状细胞癌（HNSCC）中显示出良好效果。研究表明，免疫相关基因预后指数（IRGPI）是一个可靠的标志物，且N-甲基腺苷（mA）甲基化对头颈部鳞状细胞癌的肿瘤免疫微环境（TIME）和免疫疗法有显著影响。因此，将免疫相关基因预后指数与mA状态相结合，应该能为免疫反应提供更好的预测能力。本研究使用了来自癌症基因组图谱（TCGA，n = 498）和基因表达综合数据库（GSE65858，n = 270）的头颈部鳞状细胞癌样本。通过加权基因共表达网络分析（WGCNA）确定的免疫相关枢纽基因，采用Cox回归分析构建免疫相关基因预后指数。通过最小绝对收缩和选择算子（LASSO）回归分析构建mA风险评分。使用主成分分析构建综合评分，并根据肿瘤免疫微环境细胞浸润特征对亚组进行系统关联。基于免疫相关基因预后指数和mA风险评分确定综合评分。癌症基因组图谱中的头颈部鳞状细胞癌患者被分为四个亚组：A（IRGPI高&mA风险高，n = 127）、B（IRGPI高&mA风险低，n = 99）、C（IRGPI低&mA风险高，n = 99）和D（IRGPI低&mA风险低，n = 128），亚组之间的总生存期（OS）有显著差异（P < 0.001）。四个亚组中肿瘤免疫微环境细胞浸润的特征在亚组间有显著差异（P < 0.05）。受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线显示，综合评分对总生存期的预测价值优于其他评分。综合评分是一个有前景的预后标志物，可能区分免疫和分子特征、预测预后，并指导更有效的头颈部鳞状细胞癌免疫治疗策略。
