Integrate Exploration to Identify Radiosensitive Biomarkers in Genes in PD-L1 Expression and PD-1 Check Point Pathway in Cancer
Abstract Purpose Exploration to identify radiosensitive biomarkers in genes in PD-L1 expression and PD-1 check point pathway in cancer. Methods and Materials: Gene expression datasets and information were downloaded from TCGA. Stepwise multivariate Cox regression based on AIC was performed using stacking multiple interpolation data to identify radiosensitive (RS) genes. Results Among the 74 PD-1/PD-L1 pathway genes, we identified 10 RS genes in BRCA dataset, 11 RS genes in STAD dataset and 13 RS genes in HNSC dataset. These genes can be thought as independent factors to identify the sensitivity of cancer patients to radiotherapy. Gene CD274 was the common gene in the three tumor datasets. And gene ZAP70 was verified as a RS gene in the external validation. There were moderate co-expression relationships and interactions in these genes. Functional enrichment analysis showed that most of these genes were related to T cells. Conclusions Our study identified potential radiosensitive biomarkers of several main cancer types in an important tumor immune checkpoint pathway. New types of RS genes were identified based on expanded definition to radiosensitive genes. Different types of tumors may share some common carcinogenic mechanisms and may have same RS genes.