An angiogenesis-associated gene-based signature predicting prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients

Bangjie Chen ^1,2, Yanxun Han ², Shuyan Sheng ²

¹College & Hospital of Stomatology, Key Lab. of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
²The First Affiliated Hospital (First Clinical Medical College), Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
³CUNY School of Medicine, New York, USA.
⁴Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, NewYork Presbyterian (Columbia Irving Medical Center), New York, USA.
⁵UK Program Site, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Preston, UK.
⁶Bronxcare Health System, New York, USA.
⁷The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
⁸The Affiliated Chuzhou Hospital of Anhui Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Chuzhou, Chuzhou, China.
⁹Department of Microbiology and Parasitology (Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Pathogen Biology), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
¹⁰The Affiliated Chuzhou Hospital of Anhui Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Chuzhou, Chuzhou, China. lin2007512@vip.163.com.
¹¹College & Hospital of Stomatology, Key Lab. of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China. zhanglei6551@126.com.
¹²College & Hospital of Stomatology, Key Lab. of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China. shaowei@ahmu.edu.cn.
¹³Department of Microbiology and Parasitology (Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Pathogen Biology), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China. shaowei@ahmu.edu.cn.

⁰College & Hospital of Stomatology, Key Lab. of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.

Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology +

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February 12, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This study developed a diagnostic and prognostic model for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using angiogenesis-associated genes (AAGs). The model accurately predicts patient outcomes and is linked to the tumor immune microenvironment and immunotherapy response.

Area Of Science

Oncology
Genomics
Immunology

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) poses significant diagnostic and prognostic challenges.
Identifying reliable biomarkers is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose Of The Study

To develop a robust diagnostic and prognostic model for HNSCC.
To investigate the relationship between angiogenesis-associated gene (AAG) expression and HNSCC characteristics.
To explore the association of prognostic risk with the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) and immunotherapy response.

Main Methods

Utilized gene expression data from TCGA and GEO databases for cluster analysis.
Developed a diagnostic model using Support Vector Machine (SVM) and LASSO regression based on nine AAGs.
Constructed a prognostic risk signature using six AAGs and built a prognostic nomogram.
Assessed the tumor immune microenvironment using multiple algorithms and performed gene set enrichment analysis.

Main Results

Classified HNSCC patients into distinct subtypes based on AAG expression patterns.
Developed a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic model for HNSCC.
Established a prognostic risk score with independent prognostic significance, integrated into a nomogram.
Demonstrated significant differences in TME, drug sensitivity, and gene mutations across prognostic risk groups.

Conclusions

A novel diagnostic and prognostic model for HNSCC based on AAGs has been successfully developed.
The prognostic risk score is strongly correlated with the tumor immune microenvironment and predicts immunotherapy response.

Keywords:

Angiogenesis-associated gene Diagnosis HNSCC Immunotherapy Prognostic signature