A composite score based on immune-related gene prognostic index and mA risk score of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

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.