Pan-cancer analysis revealed prognosis value and immunological relevance of RAMPs

Abstract

Whether receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) play a key role in human cancer prognosis and immunity remains unknown. We used data from the public databases, The Cancer Genome Atlas, Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments, and the Genotype-Tissue Expression project. We utilized bioinformatics methods, R software, and a variety of online databases to analyze RAMPs. In general, RAMPs were significantly and differentially expressed in multiple tumors, and RAMP expression was closely associated with prognosis, immune checkpoints, RNA-editing genes, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, ploidy, and stemness indices. In addition, the expression of RAMPs is strongly correlated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in human cancers. Moreover, the RAMP co-expression network is largely involved in many immune-related biological processes. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot proved that RAMP3 was highly expressed in glioma, and RAMP3 promoted tumor proliferation and migration. RAMPs exhibit potential as prognostic and immune-related biomarkers in human cancers. Moreover, RAMPs can be potentially developed as therapeutic targets or used to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Keywords

• RAMPs
• Prognosis
• Immunotherapy
• Pan-cancer
• Immune
• Tumor microenvironment