scholarly journals Construction of a Novel Prognostic Immune-Related LncRNA Risk Model for Gastric Cancer

Author(s):  
Gen-hua Yang

Abstract Background and AimStudies have recently shown that immune-related lncRNAs play a vital role in the occurrence and development of human malignancies. However, the study in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. Here, we aimed to identify immune-related lncRNAs and construct a risk score model to predict the prognosis of GC patients.Methods:RNA expression data and clinical characteristics of GC were download from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Immune genes were obtained from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB). Immune-related lncRNAs were acquired by correlation coefficient between the immune genes and lncRNAs using “limma R” package and Cytoscape 3.6.1. The risk score model was constructed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression, and its prognostic value was verified in TCGA cohort. Results:A total of 146 immune-related lncRNAs were obtained compared 375 GC samples with 32 normal samples. A five immune-related lncRNA (AP001528.2, LINC02542, LINC02526, PVT1 and LINC01094) risk score model was constructed to predict prognosis of GC patients by Cox regression analysis. Moreover, GC patients with higher risk score had a poorer overall survival than that with lower risk score (P<0.001). Furthermore, ROC analysis revealed that the risk score model had the best predictive effect compared with clinicopathological features during 5 years followed-up (AUC = 0.679). Indeed, PCA analysis showed that the patients in the low- and high- group were significantly distinguished in different directions based on the risk score model. Conclusion:This study indicated that a five immune-related lncRNA risk score model possessed a satisfactory predictive prognosis, which might be potential prognostic biomarkers and immunotherapy targets for GC patients in future.

Epigenomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junyu Huo ◽  
Liqun Wu ◽  
Yunjin Zang

Aims: To investigate the prognostic significance of hypoxia- and ferroptosis-related genes for gastric cancer (GC). Materials & methods: We extracted data on 259 hypoxia- and ferroptosis-related genes from The Cancer Genome Atlas and identified the differentially expressed genes between normal (n = 32) and tumor (n = 375) tissues. A risk score was established by univariate Cox regression analysis and LASSO penalized Cox regression analysis. Results: The risk score contained eight genes showed good performance in predicting overall survival and relapse-free survival in GC patients in both the training cohort (The Cancer Genome Atlas, n = 350) and the testing cohorts (GSE84437, n = 431; GSE62254, n = 300; GSE15459, n = 191; GSE26253, n = 432). Conclusion: The eight-gene signature may help to the improve the prognostic risk classification of GC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fen Liu ◽  
Zongcheng Yang ◽  
Lixin Zheng ◽  
Wei Shao ◽  
Xiujie Cui ◽  
...  

BackgroundGastric cancer is a common gastrointestinal malignancy. Since it is often diagnosed in the advanced stage, its mortality rate is high. Traditional therapies (such as continuous chemotherapy) are not satisfactory for advanced gastric cancer, but immunotherapy has shown great therapeutic potential. Gastric cancer has high molecular and phenotypic heterogeneity. New strategies for accurate prognostic evaluation and patient selection for immunotherapy are urgently needed.MethodsWeighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify hub genes related to gastric cancer progression. Based on the hub genes, the samples were divided into two subtypes by consensus clustering analysis. After obtaining the differentially expressed genes between the subtypes, a gastric cancer risk model was constructed through univariate Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate Cox regression analysis. The differences in prognosis, clinical features, tumor microenvironment (TME) components and immune characteristics were compared between subtypes and risk groups, and the connectivity map (CMap) database was applied to identify potential treatments for high-risk patients.ResultsWGCNA and screening revealed nine hub genes closely related to gastric cancer progression. Unsupervised clustering according to hub gene expression grouped gastric cancer patients into two subtypes related to disease progression, and these patients showed significant differences in prognoses, TME immune and stromal scores, and suppressive immune checkpoint expression. Based on the different expression patterns between the subtypes, we constructed a gastric cancer risk model and divided patients into a high-risk group and a low-risk group based on the risk score. High-risk patients had a poorer prognosis, higher TME immune/stromal scores, higher inhibitory immune checkpoint expression, and more immune characteristics suitable for immunotherapy. Multivariate Cox regression analysis including the age, stage and risk score indicated that the risk score can be used as an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer. On the basis of the risk score, we constructed a nomogram that relatively accurately predicts gastric cancer patient prognoses and screened potential drugs for high-risk patients.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the 7-gene signature related to tumor progression could predict the clinical prognosis and tumor immune characteristics of gastric cancer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-43
Author(s):  
Beilei Wu ◽  
Lijun Tao ◽  
Daqing Yang ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Hongbo Xu ◽  
...  

Objective. Stromal cells and immune cells have important clinical significance in the microenvironment of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study is aimed at developing a CRC gene signature on the basis of stromal and immune scores. Methods. A cohort of CRC patients (n=433) were adopted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Stromal/immune scores were calculated by the ESTIMATE algorithm. Correlation between prognosis/clinical characteristics and stromal/immune scores was assessed. Differentially expressed stromal and immune genes were identified. Their potential functions were annotated by functional enrichment analysis. Cox regression analysis was used to develop an eight-gene risk score model. Its predictive efficacies for 3 years, 5 years, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival interval (PFI) were evaluated using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The correlation between the risk score and the infiltering levels of six immune cells was analyzed using TIMER. The risk score was validated using an independent dataset. Results. Immune score was in a significant association with prognosis and clinical characteristics of CRC. 736 upregulated and two downregulated stromal and immune genes were identified, which were mainly enriched into immune-related biological processes and pathways. An-eight gene prognostic risk score model was conducted, consisting of CCL22, CD36, CPA3, CPT1C, KCNE4, NFATC1, RASGRP2, and SLC2A3. High risk score indicated a poor prognosis of patients. The area under the ROC curves (AUC) s of the model for 3 years, 5 years, OS, and PFI were 0.71, 0.70, 0.73, and 0.66, respectively. Thus, the model possessed well performance for prediction of patients’ prognosis, which was confirmed by an external dataset. Moreover, the risk score was significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration. Conclusion. Our study conducted an immune-related prognostic risk score model, which could provide novel targets for immunotherapy of CRC.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liu-qing Zhou ◽  
Jie-yu Zhou ◽  
Yao Hu

Abstract Background: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications play an essential role in tumorigenesis. m6A modifications are known to modulate RNAs, including mRNAs and lncRNAs. However, the prognostic role of m6A-related lncRNAs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is poorly understood.Methods: Based on LASSO Cox regression, enrichment analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, a risk prognostic model, and consensus clustering analysis, we analyzed the 12 m6A-related lncRNAs in HNSCC samples data using the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.Results: We found twelve m6A-related lncRNAs in the training cohort and validated in all cohorts by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses, and revealing their independent prognostic value in HNSCC. Moreover, ROC analysis was conducted, confirming the strong predictive ability of this signature for HNSCC prognosis. GSEA and detailed immune infiltration analyses revealed specific pathways associated with m6A-related lncRNAs.Conclusions: In this study, a novel risk model including twelve genes (SAP30L-AS1, AC022098.1, LINC01475, AC090587.2, AC008115.3, AC015911.3, AL122035.2, AC010226.1, AL513190.1, ZNF32-AS1, AL035587.1 and AL031716.1) was built. It could accurately predict HNSCC prognosis and provide potential prediction outcome and new therapeutic target for HNSCC patients.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianfeng Huang ◽  
Wenzheng Chen ◽  
Changyu Chen ◽  
Tao Xiao ◽  
Zhigang Jie

Abstract BackgroundN6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification plays an important role in regulating tumor microenvironment (TME) infiltration. However, the relationship between the expression pattern of m6A-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and the immune microenvironment of gastric cancer (GC) is unclear. MethodsIn this study, 23 m6A-related lncRNAs were identified by Pearson’s correlation analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis. According to the expression of these lncRNAs, we identified two distinct molecular clusters by consensus clustering and compared the differences of the TME and enriched pathways between the two clusters. We further constructed a prognostic risk signature and verified it using The Cancer Genome Atlas training and testing cohorts. ResultsThe results showed that cluster 1 was associated with tumor-related and immune activation-related pathways. In addition, cluster 1 was also associated with higher ImmuneScore, StromalScore, and ESTIMATEScore. The results of the stratified survival analysis and independent prognosis analysis indicated that the risk signature is an independent prognostic indicator for patients with GC. In addition, it can effectively predict survival status in patients with different clinical characteristics. Furthermore, our risk model showed that low risk scores were significantly correlated with high expression of programmed death-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA4), as well as sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., paclitaxel and oxaliplatin). ConclusionsThis evidence contributes to our understanding of the regulation of TME infiltration by m6A-related lncRNAs and my lead to more effective immunotherapy and chemotherapy for patients with GC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Jin ◽  
Rui Li ◽  
Tuo Deng ◽  
Jialiang Li ◽  
Yan Yang ◽  
...  

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly invasive malignancy prone to recurrence, and patients with HCC have a low 5-year survival rate. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a vital role in the occurrence and development of HCC. N6-methyladenosine methylation (m6A) is the most common modification influencing cancer development. Here, we used the transcriptome of m6A regulators and lncRNAs, along with the complete corresponding clinical HCC patient information obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), to explore the role of m6A regulator-related lncRNA (m6ARlnc) as a prognostic biomarker in patients with HCC. The prognostic m6ARlnc was selected using Pearson correlation and univariate Cox regression analyses. Moreover, three clusters were obtained via consensus clustering analysis and further investigated for differences in immune infiltration, immune microenvironment, and prognosis. Subsequently, nine m6ARlncs were identified with Lasso-Cox regression analysis to construct the prognostic signature m6A-9LPS for patients with HCC in the training cohort (n = 226). Based on m6A-9LPS, the risk score for each case was calculated. Patients were then divided into high- and low-risk subgroups based on the cutoff value set by the X-tile software. m6A-9LPS showed a strong prognosis prediction ability in the validation cohort (n = 116), the whole cohort (n = 342), and even clinicopathological stratified survival analysis. Combining the risk score and clinical characteristics, we established a nomogram for predicting the overall survival (OS) of patients. To further understand the mechanism underlying the m6A-9LPS-based classification of prognosis differences, KEGG and GO enrichment analyses, competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, chemotherapeutic agent sensibility, and immune checkpoint expression level were assessed. Taken together, m6A-9LPS could be used as a precise prediction model for the prognosis of patients with HCC, which will help in individualized treatment of HCC.


BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangyao Li ◽  
Xiyi Wei ◽  
Shifeng Su ◽  
Shangqian Wang ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Considerable evidence has indicated an association between the immune microenvironment and clinical outcome in ccRCC. The purpose of this study is to extensively figure out the influence of immune-related genes of tumors on the prognosis of patients with ccRCC. Methods Files containing 2498 immune-related genes were obtained from the Immunology Database and Analysis Portal (ImmPort), and the transcriptome data and clinical information relevant to patients with ccRCC were identified and downloaded from the TCGA data-base. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to screen out prognostic immune genes. The immune risk score model was established in light of the regression coefficient between survival and hub immune-related genes. We eventually set up a nomogram for the prediction of the overall survival for ccRCC. Kaplan-Meier (K-M) and ROC curve was used in evaluating the value of the predictive risk model. A P value of < 0.05 indicated statistically significant differences throughout data analysis. Results Via differential analysis, we found that 556 immune-related genes were expressed differentially between tumor and normal tissues (p < 0. 05). The analysis of univariate Cox regression exhibited that there was a statistical correlation between 43 immune genes and survival risk in patients with ccRCC (p < 0.05). Through Lasso-Cox regression analysis, we established an immune genetic risk scoring model based on 18 immune-related genes. The high-risk group showed a bad prognosis in K-M analysis. (p < 0.001). ROC curve showed that it was reliable of the immune risk score model to predict survival risk (5 year over survival, AUC = 0.802). The model indicated satisfactory AUC and survival correlation in the validation data set (5 year OS, Area Under Curve = 0.705, p < 0.05). From Multivariate regression analysis, the immune-risk score model plays an isolated role in the prediction of the prognosis of ccRCC. Under multivariate-Cox regression analysis, we set up a nomogram for comprehensive prediction of ccRCC patients’ survival rate. At last, it was identified that 18 immune-related genes and risk scores were not only tremendously related to clinical prognosis but also contained in a variety of carcinogenic pathways. Conclusion In general, tumor immune-related genes play essential roles in ccRCC development and progression. Our research established an unequal 18-immune gene risk index to predict the prognosis of ccRCC visually. This index was found to be an independent predictive factor for ccRCC.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Qin ◽  
Guangyao Li ◽  
Xiyi Wei ◽  
Shifeng Su ◽  
Shangqian Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: Increasing evidence has indicated an association between immune micro-environment in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and clinical outcomes. The aim of this research is to comprehensively investigate the effect of tumor immune genes on the prognosis of ccRCC patients. Methods: 2498 immune genes were downloaded from ImmPort database. Additionally, we identified and downloaded the transcriptome data of patients with ccRCC from the TCGA database through the R package, as well as relevant clinical information. We apply certain survival R package to analyse the survival of hub-genes before analyzing the effect of immune genes on the prognosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) utilizing Cox regression analysis. Based on the statistical correlation between hub immune gene and survival ,immune risk score model was set up.We finally constructed a nomogram to predict the survival rate of ccRCC overally. In addition, whether the immune gene risk score model is an independent prognostic factor for ccRCC is comprehensively considered applying multivariate cox regression analysis. It is worth noting that throughout the data analysis, P< 0.05 was recognized to be of significance statistically. Results: The results of the difference analysis showed that 556 immune genes exhibited differential expression between normal and ccRCC tissues (p<0. 05). Univariate cox regression analysis revealed 43 immune genes statistically correlated with ccRCC related survival risk (P<0.05). In addition, a 18-genes based immune genes risk scoring model was constructed through lasso COX regression analysis. KM curve indicated that patients in high-risk were associated with poor outcomes (p<0.001). ROC curve indicated that the immune risk score model was reliable in predicting survival risk (5-year OS, AUC=0.802). Our model showed satisfying AUC and survival correlation in the validation dataset ( 5-year OS AUC=0.705, P<0.001). Furthermore, multivariate cox regression analysis confirmed that the immune risk score model was an independent factor for predicting the prognosis of ccRCC. A nomogram was established to comprehensively predict the survival of ccRCC patients with the results of multivariate cox regression analysis. Finally, we found that 15 immune genes and risk scores were significantly associated with clinical factors and prognosis, and were involved in multiple oncogenic pathways.Conclusion: Collectively, tumor immune genes played an essential role in the prognosis of ccRCC. Furthermore, immune risk score was an independent predictive factor of ccRCC, indicating a poor survival.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zou ◽  
Yue Ding ◽  
Yuxiang Dong ◽  
Dejun Wu ◽  
Junyi Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are now under discussion as novel promising bio-markers for patients with colon cancer. The purpose of our study is to identify several RBPs related to the progression and prognosis of colon cancer, and to further investigate the mechanism of their influence on tumor progression. Methods: The transcriptome data of colon cancer as well as clinical characteristics used in this study were downloaded from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis and Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed to elucidate the gene functions and relative pathways. Cox and lasso regression analysis were used to analyze the effect of immune genes on the prognosis of breast cancer. Immune risk scoring model was constructed based on the statistical correlation between hub immune genes and survival. Meanwhile, multivariate cox regression analysis was utilized to investigate whether the immune genes risk score model was an independent factor for predicting the prognosis of breast cancer. Nomogram was constructed to comprehensively predict the survival rate of breast cancer. P< 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The results of the difference analysis showed that 473 RBPs exhibited differential expression between normal and colon cancer tissues (p<0. 05). Univariate cox regression analysis revealed 25 RBPs statistically correlated with colon cancer related survival risk (P<0.05). In addition, a 10-RBPs based risk scoring model was constructed through multivariate cox regression analysis. KM curve indicated that patients in high-risk were associated with poor outcomes (p<0.001). ROC curve indicated that the immune risk score model was reliable in predicting survival risk (5-year OS, AUC=0.782). Our model showed satisfying AUC and survival correlation in the validation dataset (5-year OS AUC=0.744). Furthermore, multivariate cox regression analysis confirmed that the immune risk score model was an independent factor for predicting the prognosis of colon cancer. A nomogram was established to comprehensively predict the survival of colon cancer patients with the results of multivariate cox regression analysis. Finally, we found that 10 RBPs and risk scores were significantly associated with clinical factors and prognosis, and were involved in multiple oncogenic pathways. Conclusion: Collectively, RBPs played an essential role in the progression and prognosis of colon cancer by regulating multiple biological pathways. Furthermore, RBPs risk score was an independent predictive factor of colon cancer, indicating a poor survival.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng-Meng Zhang ◽  
Yi-Lin Lin ◽  
Wen-Feng Zeng ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
Yang Yang ◽  
...  

Breast cancer (BRCA) is a heterogeneous malignancy closely related to the tumor microenvironment (TME) cell infiltration. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of mRNA plays a crucial regulator in regulating the immune microenvironment of BRCA. Immunotherapy represents a paradigm shift in BRCA treatment; however, lack of an appropriate approach for treatment evaluation is a significant issue in this field. In this study, we attempted to establish a prognostic signature of BRCA based on m6A-related immune genes and to investigate the potential association between prognosis and immunotherapy. We comprehensively evaluated the m6A modification patterns of BRCA tissues and non-tumor tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the modification patterns with TME cell-infiltrating characteristics. Overall, 1,977 TME-related genes were identified in the literature. Based on LASSO and Cox regression analyses, the m6A-related immune score (m6A-IS) was established to characterize the TME of BRCA and predict prognosis and efficacy associated with immunotherapy. We developed an m6A-IS to effectively predict immune infiltration and the prognosis of patients with BRCA. The prognostic score model represented robust predictive performance in both the training and validation cohorts. The low-m6A-IS group was characterized by enhanced antigen presentation and improved immune checkpoint expression, further indicating sensitivity to immunotherapy. Compared with the patients in the high-score group, the overall survival rate after treatment in the low-score group was significantly higher in the testing and validation cohorts. We constructed an m6A-IS system to examine the ability of the m6A signature to predict the infiltration of immune cells of the TME in BRCA, and the m6A-IS system acted as an independent prognostic biomarker that predicts the response of patients with BRCA in immunotherapy.


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