SNAI1: a key modulator of survival in lung squamous cell carcinoma and its association with metastasis.

BACKGROUND

Snail family zinc finger 1 (SNAI1) has been implicated in cancer progression and prognosis across various malignancies. This study aims to elucidate the prognostic significance of SNAI1 expression in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LUSC) using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

METHODS

SNAI1 expression levels in LUSC patients were stratified using X-tile software to establish optimal cut-off values. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to assess the impact of SNAI1 expression on overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the prognostic value of SNAI1, considering clinical parameters such as age, clinical stage, and TNM classification. Additionally, we explored the interaction between SNAI1 expression and metastatic status, and performed Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to investigate associated cellular pathways. Correlations between SNAI1 and immune checkpoint molecules were also examined.

RESULTS

Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significant differences in OS among high, medium, and low SNAI1 expression groups (p < 0.001), with median survival times of 1.6, 3.0, and 5.8 years, respectively. Dichotomizing patients into high and low SNAI1 expression groups confirmed that high SNAI1 expression was associated with significantly poorer OS (p < 0.001). SNAI1 remained an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis. High SNAI1 expression correlated with poorer survival outcomes regardless of metastatic status, and the combination of high SNAI1 expression and metastasis resulted in the poorest survival. GSEA identified significant associations between SNAI1 and inflammatory, immune response pathways. Positive correlations were observed between SNAI1 and key immune checkpoint molecules, suggesting an interplay with immune checkpoint mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

High SNAI1 expression is a robust prognostic indicator of poor survival in LUSC, independent of other clinical factors. Its association with immune checkpoint molecules highlights its potential as a therapeutic target. These findings underscore the prognostic and therapeutic relevance of SNAI1 in LUSC and possibly other cancers. Further research is warranted to explore targeted therapies against SNAI1.