OncoTargets and Therapy (Feb 2021)
Bioinformatics Analyses Indicate That Cathepsin G (CTSG) is a Potential Immune-Related Biomarker in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC)
Abstract
Guang-zhao Huang,1,* Qing-qing Wu,1,* Ze-nan Zheng,1,* Ting-ru Shao,1 Fei Li,1 Xin-yan Lu,1 Heng-yu Ye,1 Gao-xiang Chen,1 Yu-xing Song,1 Wei-sen Zeng,2 Yi-long Ai,3 Xiao-zhi Lv1 1Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, NanFang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Foshan Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology and Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiao-zhi LvDepartment of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, NanFang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13724811658Email [email protected] AiFoshan Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology and Medicine, Foshan University, Chancheng District, Foshan, Guangdong Province, 528000, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 13827755774Email [email protected]: Plenty of studies showed that the immune system was associated with cancer initiation and progression. This study aimed to explore the prognostic biomarkers from immune-related genes (IRGs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Materials and Methods: RNA-seq data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and IRGs and transcription factors (TFs) were extracted. Then, the co-expression network between IRGs and TFs was constructed using the “WGCNA” package in R software. Furthermore, a gene expression signature according to IRGs was constructed to predict OSCC prognosis and its accuracy was validated by survival analysis. Subsequently, correlation analyses between risk-score and immune cells level and clinical parameters were performed. Finally, immune-related biomarkers were selected and further investigated using gain-of-function assays in vitro.Results: A total of 32 normal cases and 317 OSCC cases were selected in our study. Differentially-expressed analysis indicated that there were 381 differentially-expressed IRGs and 62 TFs in OSCC. Among them, 25 TFs and 21 IRGs were enrolled in the co-expression network. Furthermore, we found that gene expression signature on the basis of 10 IRGs could predict the prognosis accurately and a high-risk score based on gene expression signature meant a high T classification, terminal clinical stage, and low immune cells level in OSCC. Finally, cathepsin G (CTSG) was identified as a potential immune-related biomarker and therapeutic target in OSCC.Conclusion: In conclusion, IRGs were directly involved in the development and progression of OSCC. Furthermore, CTSG was identified as a potential independent biomarker and might be an immunotherapeutic target in OSCC treatment.Keywords: oral squamous cell carcinoma, immune, biomarker, bioinformatics, CTSG
