Immune landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma: The central role of TP53-inducible glycolysis and apoptosis regulator

Objective This study aims to address the substantive issue of lacking reliable prognostic biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by investigating the relationship between TP53-inducible glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR) and HCC prognosis using The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Methods (1) Integrated statistical analyses, including logistic regression, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Kruskal–Wallis test, were conducted to explore the association between TIGAR expression and clinical–pathological features of HCC. (2) The Kaplan–Meier method combined with univariate and multivariate Cox regression models underscored TIGAR as a prognostic factor in HCC. (3) Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed key pathways associated with TIGAR, while single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) determined its relevance to cancer immune infiltration. Results (1) Elevated TIGAR expression was significantly correlated with decreased survival outcomes in HCC patients. (2) GSEA highlighted the significant link between TIGAR and humoral immunity. (3) ssGSEA revealed a positive correlation between TIGAR expression and infiltration of Th1 and Th2 cells and a negative correlation with Th17 cell infiltration. Conclusion TIGAR, as a potential prognostic biomarker for HCC, holds significant value in immune infiltration. Understanding the role of TIGAR could contribute to improved prognostic predictions and personalized treatment strategies for HCC patients.