Systematic pan-cancer analysis identifies ZBTB11 as a potential pan-cancer biomarker and immunotherapy target in multiple tumor types.

Abstract

Background: ZBTB11 is a putative transcription factor with an N-terminal BTB domain and tandem C-terminal zinc finger motifs. Recent studies have suggested a potential role for ZBTB11 in tumorigenesis. However, the biological significance of ZBTB11 in different cancer types remains uncertain.

Methods: The expression levels, prognostic values, genetic mutations, and DNA promoter methylation of ZBTB11 across tumor types were explored via various online websites and databases, including TIMER2.0, GEPIA2, cBioPortal, UALCAN, GSCA, CancerSEA, and others. Additionally, a competing lncRNA-miRNA network of ZBTB11 was constructed, and its interaction with chemicals and genes was investigated.

Results: Our findings revealed that ZBTB11 was aberrantly expressed in a multitude of tumor types and exhibited variability across various tumor stages. A survival analysis revealed that ZBTB11 predicted a poor prognosis in BRCA, KIRP, LIHC, PCPG, PRAD, SARC, UCEC, and a good prognosis in CHOL, ESCA, GBM, KIRC, and READ. We also found that the most frequent genetic alterations type of ZBTB11 was mutation, and the DNA methylation level of ZBTB11 decreased in various cancers. Furthermore, ZBTB11 expression correlated with immune cells infiltration and genetic markers of immunodulators in cancers. Moreover, the results of single-cell sequencing demonstrated that ZBTB11 could regulate several tumor biological behaviors, including apoptosis, DNA damage, and angiogenesis. A lncRNA-miRNA network regulating ZBTB11 expression in tumor development and progression was constructed. It is of particular significance that ZBTB11 demonstrated a correlation with the CTRP and GDSC drug sensitivity, and that it served as a mediator between chemicals and cancers.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that ZBTB11 is associated with multiple tumor types and disease prognosis. ZBTB11 may represent a potential key biomarker and therapeutic target in cancers.