Immune-related glycosylation genes based classification predicts prognosis and therapy options of osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy, with a very poor prognosis. Aberrant glycosylation is close involvement in osteosarcoma. Accordingly, this study aimed at investigating the role of glycosylation genes in the prognosis and therapy options of osteosarcoma. The microenvironment of osteosarcoma was assessed using estimate algorithm. A total of 20 immune-related glycosylation genes (IRGGs) was identified using Pearson correlation analysis. Accordingly, osteosarcoma patients were divided into C1 and C2 type using consensus clustering. Multiple algorithms (Xcell, MCP-counter, ssGSEA, epic, quantiseq), cancer immune cycle analysis, and GSVA were applied to estimate the immune, molecule and metabolism characteristics of osteosarcoma, indicating that C1 type was featured with high immune infiltration, high glycosylation, enriched MEK signaling, and good prognosis, while C2 type was characterized by more metastasis, enriched immunotherapy-positive gene signatures, high tumor mutation burden, and poor prognosis. Results from TIDE algorithm and immunotherapy datasets suggested the C2 type’s preference of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), while data of GDSC, CMap analysis and cell experiments indicated that C1 type was sensitivity to MEK inhibitor PD0325901. In addition, univariate Cox and Lasso analysis was combined to establish an IRGGs’ risk score containing 6 genes (B3GNT8, FUT7, GAL3ST4, GALNT14, HS3ST2, and MFNG). The data of DCA and ROC indicated its well prediction of prognosis in osteosarcoma. Finally, cellular location analysis showed that the 6 genes not only distributed in tumor cells but also in immune cells. In summary, the classification and risk score based on IRGGs effectively predicted the prognosis and therapy options of osteosarcoma. Further studies on IRGGs may contribute to the understanding of cancer immunity in osteosarcoma.