Low Level FLT3LG is a Novel Poor Prognostic Biomarker for Cervical Cancer with Immune Infiltration

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Oncology
• Genomics

Background:

• FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3LG) is a growth factor crucial for dendritic cell (DC) differentiation and expansion.
• FLT3LG shows promise as an immunotherapy target in various cancers.
• The role of FLT3LG in cervical cancer remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the expression and prognostic significance of FLT3LG in cervical cancer.
• To evaluate FLT3LG as a potential diagnostic biomarker for cervical cancer.
• To explore the relationship between FLT3LG expression and the tumor immune microenvironment in cervical cancer.

Main Methods:

• Utilized The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), TISIDB, and Tumor Immune Estimate Resource (TIMER) databases for expression and prognosis analysis.
• Validated FLT3LG expression in 489 cervical cancer patients using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR).
• Performed Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression, prognostic nomogram, and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analyses.

Main Results:

• FLT3LG expression was significantly decreased in cervical cancer tissues compared to normal tissues.
• Lower FLT3LG expression was associated with poorer clinical prognosis in cervical cancer patients.
• FLT3LG demonstrated potential as a diagnostic biomarker, with a high odds ratio for detecting CIN 2+ and correlations with immune cell infiltration.

Conclusions:

• Reduced FLT3LG expression is a potential prognostic biomarker in cervical cancer (CESC).
• FLT3LG may play a role in immune infiltration within the cervical cancer microenvironment.
• Further research into FLT3LG's function could inform novel immunotherapeutic strategies for cervical cancer.