AUTHOR=Yang Yizhou , Cai Zeman , Huang Kaichun , Li Mei , Wang Xiao , Lin Yinbing , Chen Sijie , Yang Zhining , Lin Zhixiong 

TITLE=A composite score based on immune-related gene prognostic index and m6A risk score of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2023.1061569

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2023.1061569

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Immunotherapy has been demonstrated favorable in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Studies indicated that immune-related gene prognostic index (IRGPI) was a robust signature, and N<sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine (m<sup>6</sup>A) methylation had a significant impact on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and immunotherapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Thus, combining indicated that immune-related gene prognostic index with m<sup>6</sup>A status should offer a better predictive power for immune responses.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma samples from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA, <italic>n</italic> = 498) and gene expression omnibus database (GSE65858, <italic>n</italic> = 270) were used in this study. Cox regression analysis was used to construct the indicated that immune-related gene prognostic index through immune-related hub genes which were identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The m<sup>6</sup>A risk score was constructed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Principal component analysis was used to construct a composite score, and systematically correlate subgroups according to tumor immune microenvironment cell-infiltrating characteristics.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> A composite score was determined based on indicated that immune-related gene prognostic index and m<sup>6</sup>A risk score. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients in the cancer genome atlas were divided into four subgroups: A (IRGPI-High&amp;m<sup>6</sup>A-risk-High, <italic>n</italic> = 127), B (IRGPI-High&amp;m<sup>6</sup>A-risk-Low, <italic>n</italic> = 99), C (IRGPI-Low&amp;m<sup>6</sup>A-risk-High, <italic>n</italic> = 99), and D (IRGPI-Low&amp;m<sup>6</sup>A-risk-Low, <italic>n</italic> = 128), and overall survival (OS) was significantly different between subgroups (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). The characteristics of tumor immune microenvironment cell infiltration in the four subgroups were significantly different in subgroups (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves show the predictive value of composite score for overall survival was superior to other scores.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The composite score is a promising prognostic signature which might distinguish immune and molecular characteristics, predict prognosis, and guide more effective immunotherapeutic strategies for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.</p>