AUTHOR=Xu Dandan , Ji Zhipeng , Qiang Ling 

TITLE=Molecular Characteristics, Clinical Implication, and Cancer Immunity Interactions of Pyroptosis-Related Genes in Breast Cancer

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.702638

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.702638

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> Pyroptosis represents an emerging inflammatory form of programmed cell death. Herein, specific functions and clinical implications of pyroptosis-related genes were systematically characterized in breast cancer.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Expression, somatic mutation and copy number variation of 33 pyroptosis-related genes were assessed in breast cancer from TCGA dataset. Their interactions, biological functions and prognostic values were then observed. By stepwise Cox regression analysis, a pyroptosis-related gene signature was generated. The predictive efficacy in survival was examined by survival analyses, ROCs, univariate and multivariate analyses and subgroup analyses. Associations between risk score (RS) and cancer immunity cycle, <italic>HLA</italic>, immune cell infiltrations, and immune checkpoints were analyzed.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Most of pyroptosis-related genes were abnormally expressed in breast cancer. <italic>CASP8, NLRC4, NLRP3, NLRP2, PLCG1, NLRP1, NLRP7, SCAF11, GSDMC</italic>, and <italic>NOD1</italic> occurred somatic mutations as well as most of them had high frequency of CNV. There were closely interactions between them. These genes were distinctly enriched in immune-related processes. A three-gene signature was generated, containing <italic>IL-18, GSDMC</italic>, and <italic>TIRAP</italic>. High RS predicted poorer overall survival, progression, and recurrence. After verification, this RS was an independent and sensitive predictive index. This RS was negatively correlated to cancer immunity cycle. Also, low RS was characterized by high <italic>HLA</italic>, immune cell infiltrations and immune checkpoints. A nomogram including age and RS was generated for accurately predicting 5-, 8-, and 10-year survival probabilities.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Pyroptosis-related genes exert key roles in cancer immunity and might be applied as a prognostic factor of breast cancer.</p>