Zhang Shuwen, Yang Yuqian, Zhang Liyi, Liu Yijiang, Guo Zihun, Wu Jiajun, Zhou Weijun, Hong Zhengdong, Zhang Wenxiong
Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China, 330006.
Queen Mary School, Jiangxi medical college, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China, 330006.
J Cancer. 2024 Sep 23;15(18):5942-5955. doi: 10.7150/jca.100194. eCollection 2024.
: The importance of fibroblasts in cancer progression is becoming more acknowledged, particularly the significance of their immune-related genes. However, the precise roles these genes play in fibroblasts throughout tumor development remains unclear. Exploring how these genes function in advancing kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) could provide answers to these uncertainties. : The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database served as the source of data for KIRC patients. We distinguished fibroblast immune-related genes (FIGs), which are used to construct risk score. Further analysis conducted including enrichment analysis, assessment of tumor mutation burden (TMB), evaluation of tumor microenvironment (TME), analysis of immune cell infiltration, and drug sensitivity prediction. : The risk score using 6 FIGs effectively predicts the outcomes for KIRC patients. Nomogram which is based on the risk score and clinical data, demonstrated superior predictive performance compared to the version without the risk score. Enrichment analysis identified that coagulation pathway predominates in high-risk group, the protein secretion pathway is prevalent in low-risk patients' cohort. The adverse prognosis in high-risk patient cohort could be linked to an elevated TMB. TME analysis showed that high-risk group's tumor tissues contain more immune and stromal cells. Furthermore, the amount of regulatory T cells increases with the risk score. Low-risk group response better to immunotherapy. Finally, RT-qPCR confirmed the differential expression of FIGs in KIRC patients. : This risk score and nomogram are valuable tools assessing KIRC patients' prognosis. Poorer prognosis in high-risk categories may have relationship with activation of coagulation pathway and a higher TMB.
成纤维细胞在癌症进展中的重要性日益得到认可,尤其是其免疫相关基因的重要性。然而,这些基因在肿瘤发展过程中在成纤维细胞中所起的精确作用仍不清楚。探索这些基因在肾透明细胞癌(KIRC)进展中的功能可能会为这些不确定性提供答案。癌症基因组图谱(TCGA)数据库作为KIRC患者的数据来源。我们区分了用于构建风险评分的成纤维细胞免疫相关基因(FIGs)。进行了进一步分析,包括富集分析、肿瘤突变负担(TMB)评估、肿瘤微环境(TME)评估、免疫细胞浸润分析和药物敏感性预测。使用6个FIGs的风险评分有效地预测了KIRC患者的预后。基于风险评分和临床数据的列线图显示出比没有风险评分的版本更好的预测性能。富集分析确定凝血途径在高危组中占主导地位,蛋白质分泌途径在低危患者队列中普遍存在。高危患者队列中的不良预后可能与TMB升高有关。TME分析表明,高危组的肿瘤组织含有更多的免疫和基质细胞。此外,调节性T细胞的数量随着风险评分的增加而增加。低危组对免疫治疗反应更好。最后,RT-qPCR证实了KIRC患者中FIGs的差异表达。这个风险评分和列线图是评估KIRC患者预后的有价值工具。高危组较差的预后可能与凝血途径的激活和较高的TMB有关。