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Updated: Jul 16, 2025
Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 20, 2018
Cuproptosis-related gene subtypes predict prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China.
Background:
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. A novel form of copper-dependent and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent cell death, cuproptosis, has been described in many cancers. The roles and potential mechanisms of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) are still unclear in HNSCC.
Method:
We downloaded TCGA datasets of HNSCC genomic mutations and clinic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Based on the Cuproptosis-related differentially expressed genes in HNSCC, we constructed a prognostic signature.
Results:
Eight CRGs have been identified as associated with the prognosis of HNSCC. According to Kaplan-Meier analyses, HNSCC with a high Risk Score had a poor prognosis. Furthermore, the AUC of the Risk Score for the 1-, 3-, and 5- year overall survival was respectively, 0.70, 0.71, and 0.68. TCGA data revealed that T cell functions, such as HLA, cytolytic activity, inflammation regulation, co-inhibition, and co-stimulation, differed significantly between members of the low and high groups. The immune checkpoint genes PD-L1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 were also expressed differently in the two risk groups.
Conclusions:
A CRG signature was defined that is associated with the prognosis of patients with HNSCC.
