Potential value of anoikis transcriptional signatures in predicting prognosis and immune microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract

Resistance to anoikis, a crucial factor in cancer cell survival, drives the development and progression of numerous malignancies. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant liver tumor characterized by high rates of recurrence and metastasis. However, the role of anoikis in HCC remains poorly understood. In this study, we identify 74 anoikis-related genes (ARGs) differentially expressed in HCC using the transcriptional data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Then, we develop a prognostic model incorporating 9 of these genes through LASSO-Cox regression analysis, and confirm the model's independent prognostic significance for overall survival in HCC patients by using multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis. Furthermore, we observe significant enrichment of activated proliferation-related pathways, increased infiltration of immunosuppressive cells and resistance to anti-PD-L1 therapy in the high-risk group defined by this model. These findings suggest that the ARG model may serve as a novel prognostic indicator for HCC patients and underscore the critical role of anoikis in HCC progression.