Exploring the Pyroptosis-related Genes of Breast Cancer and their Effects on Tumor Immune Microenvironment
Abstract Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women, with high rates of metastasis and recurrence. Some studies have confirmed that pyroptosis is an immune-related programmed cell death. However, the correlation between the expression of pyroptosis-related genes in BC and its prognosis remains unclear. Methods: In this study, we identified 38 pyroptosis-related genes that were differentially expressed between BC and normal tissues. The prognostic value of each pyroptosis-related gene was evaluated using patient data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The Cox regression method was performed to establish a prognostic model for 16-gene signature, classifying all BC patients in the TCGA database into a low-or high-risk group. Results: The survival rate of BC patients in the high-risk group was significantly lower than that in the low-risk group (P<0.01). Prognostic model is independent prognostic factor for BC patients compared to clinical features. Single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) showed a decrease for immune cells and immune function in the high-risk group. Conclusions: Pyroptosis-related genes influence the tumor immune microenvironment and can predict the prognosis of BC.