Constructing an immune-related prognostic signature for predicting prognosis and immune response in hepatocellular carcinoma

Cao, Lichao1; Huang, Deliang2; Zhang, Shenrui1; Li, Zhiwei2; Cai, Qingxian2; Chen, Fang1; Zhu, Meilan1; Ba, Ying1; Chen, Jun2; Zhang, Hezi1

2024-07-15

10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34012

HELIYON   影响因子和分区

2405-8440

Background: Currently, there are few studies on immune-related prognostic analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aim was to establish an immune-correlated prognostic model for HCC. Methods: Immune-associated cells were obtained from the scRNA-seq dataset (GSE149614) of HCC. Differentially expressed genes between normal and tumor cells from immune-associated cells and the immune-related genes from the ImmPort database were used to identify immunerelated differentially expressed genes (IRDEGs). Subsequently, the risk model was established in the TCGA-LIHC cohort (n = 438) from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database by using Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curve, univariate/multivariate Cox regression analysis. Subsequently, we further analyzed tumor immune microenvironment characteristics, somatic mutation, immune checkpoint and its ligand expression levels between high- and low-risk groups, as well as drug sensitivity prediction. ICGC cohort was set as the validation cohort. TCGA-LIHC cohort and three independent the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets (GSE54236, GSE14520, and GSE64041) was used to verify IRDEGs expression, as well as PCR assays using clinical samples. Results: The IRDEGs was composed of 4 genes, namely B2M, SPP1, PPIA, and HRG. The 438 HCC patients were divided into high- and low-risk group. The high-risk group was associated with poor prognosis, including higher T stage, advanced pathological stages, less immune cell infiltration, higher TP53 mutation rate, the high expression of CTLA4 and HAVCR2. Besides, high-risk populations benefit from most chemotherapy drugs. Similarly, the performance of the risk model was validated in the ICGC. All four datasets (TCGA-LIHC cohort, GSE54236, GSE14520, and GSE64041) and clinical q-PCR results demonstrated that, compared with normal samples, the expressions of B2M and HRG were lower in tumor samples, and the expression of SPP1 was higher. Conclusion: In summary, the immune-related prognostic signature had a good predictive performance on prognosis and immunotherapy for HCC patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma Tumor immune microenvironment Prognosis Immunotherapy

SCI

英语

通讯

Funds for the construction of key medical disciplines in Shenzhen[SZXK076]

Science & Technology - Other Topics

Multidisciplinary Sciences

WOS:001266514900001

CELL PRESS

Web of Science

1.Shenzhen Nucleus Gene Technol Co Ltd, Shenzhen 518071, Guangdong, Peoples R China
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Peoples Hosp Shenzhen 3, Affiliated Hosp 2, Dept Liver Dis, Shenzhen 518100, Guangdong, Peoples R China

Cao, Lichao,Huang, Deliang,Zhang, Shenrui,et al. Constructing an immune-related prognostic signature for predicting prognosis and immune response in hepatocellular carcinoma[J]. HELIYON,2024,10(13).

Cao, Lichao.,Huang, Deliang.,Zhang, Shenrui.,Li, Zhiwei.,Cai, Qingxian.,...&Zhang, Hezi.(2024).Constructing an immune-related prognostic signature for predicting prognosis and immune response in hepatocellular carcinoma.HELIYON,10(13).

Cao, Lichao,et al."Constructing an immune-related prognostic signature for predicting prognosis and immune response in hepatocellular carcinoma".HELIYON 10.13(2024).