{"title":"Identification of key genes to predict response to chemoradiotherapy and prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.","authors":"Yingying Cui, Jing Wen, Jianhua Fu, Changsen Leng","doi":"10.3389/fmolb.2024.1512715","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chemoradiotherapy is a crucial treatment modality for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study aimed to identify chemoradiotherapy sensitivity-related genes and analyze their prognostic value and potential associations with the tumor microenvironment in ESCC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Utilizing the Gene Expression Omnibus database, we identified differentially expressed genes between ESCC patients who achieved complete and incomplete pathological responses following chemoradiotherapy. Prognostic genes were then screened, and key genes associated with chemoradiotherapy sensitivity were determined using random survival forest analysis. We examined the relationships between key genes, infiltrating immune cells, and immunoregulatory genes. Additionally, drug sensitivity and enrichment analyses were conducted to assess the impact of key genes on chemotherapy responses and signaling pathways. A prognostic nomogram for ESCC was developed incorporating key genes, and its effectiveness was evaluated. Genome-wide association study data were employed to investigate chromosomal pathogenic regions associated with key genes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three key genes including <i>ATF2</i>, <i>SLC27A5</i>, and <i>ALOXE3</i> were identified. These genes can predict the sensitivity of ESCC patients to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and hold significant clinical relevance in prognostication. These genes were also found to be significantly correlated with certain immune cells and immunoregulatory genes within the tumor microenvironment and were involved in critical tumor-related signaling pathways, including the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and P53 pathways. A nomogram was established to predict the prognosis of ESCC by integrating key genes with clinical stages, demonstrating favorable predictability and reliability.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study identified three key genes that predict chemoradiotherapy sensitivity and prognosis and are involved in multiple tumor-related biological processes in ESCC. These findings provide predictive biomarkers for chemoradiotherapy response and support the development of individualized treatment strategies for ESCC patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":12465,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences","volume":"11 ","pages":"1512715"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11614722/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2024.1512715","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Chemoradiotherapy is a crucial treatment modality for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study aimed to identify chemoradiotherapy sensitivity-related genes and analyze their prognostic value and potential associations with the tumor microenvironment in ESCC.
Methods: Utilizing the Gene Expression Omnibus database, we identified differentially expressed genes between ESCC patients who achieved complete and incomplete pathological responses following chemoradiotherapy. Prognostic genes were then screened, and key genes associated with chemoradiotherapy sensitivity were determined using random survival forest analysis. We examined the relationships between key genes, infiltrating immune cells, and immunoregulatory genes. Additionally, drug sensitivity and enrichment analyses were conducted to assess the impact of key genes on chemotherapy responses and signaling pathways. A prognostic nomogram for ESCC was developed incorporating key genes, and its effectiveness was evaluated. Genome-wide association study data were employed to investigate chromosomal pathogenic regions associated with key genes.
Results: Three key genes including ATF2, SLC27A5, and ALOXE3 were identified. These genes can predict the sensitivity of ESCC patients to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and hold significant clinical relevance in prognostication. These genes were also found to be significantly correlated with certain immune cells and immunoregulatory genes within the tumor microenvironment and were involved in critical tumor-related signaling pathways, including the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and P53 pathways. A nomogram was established to predict the prognosis of ESCC by integrating key genes with clinical stages, demonstrating favorable predictability and reliability.
Conclusion: This study identified three key genes that predict chemoradiotherapy sensitivity and prognosis and are involved in multiple tumor-related biological processes in ESCC. These findings provide predictive biomarkers for chemoradiotherapy response and support the development of individualized treatment strategies for ESCC patients.
期刊介绍:
Much of contemporary investigation in the life sciences is devoted to the molecular-scale understanding of the relationships between genes and the environment — in particular, dynamic alterations in the levels, modifications, and interactions of cellular effectors, including proteins. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences offers an international publication platform for basic as well as applied research; we encourage contributions spanning both established and emerging areas of biology. To this end, the journal draws from empirical disciplines such as structural biology, enzymology, biochemistry, and biophysics, capitalizing as well on the technological advancements that have enabled metabolomics and proteomics measurements in massively parallel throughput, and the development of robust and innovative computational biology strategies. We also recognize influences from medicine and technology, welcoming studies in molecular genetics, molecular diagnostics and therapeutics, and nanotechnology.
Our ultimate objective is the comprehensive illustration of the molecular mechanisms regulating proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and small metabolites in organisms across all branches of life.
In addition to interesting new findings, techniques, and applications, Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences will consider new testable hypotheses to inspire different perspectives and stimulate scientific dialogue. The integration of in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches will benefit endeavors across all domains of the life sciences.