Integrative analysis disclosing UQCRC1 as a potential prognostic and immunological biomarker of lung adenocarcinoma

Lung cancer is one of the most malignant cancers in the world. Approximately 40 % of lung cancer cases are lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Exploring new biomarkers was an urgent need for treatments of LUAD. Here, we aimed to perform a pan-cancer analysis of ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase core protein 1 (UQCRC1) and verify it in LUAD. Compared to normal samples, we observed that UQCRC1 was significantly enhanced in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC), LUAD, liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), and several other cancers. In terms of overall survival, UQCRC1 was positively associated with poor prognosis of LUAD and skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). Almost more than 8 % deeply deleted frequency of UQCRC1 was showed in lymphoid neoplasm diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBC). In LUAD, SKCM, and a few cancers, UQCRC1 was negatively correlated with the infiltration of B cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts. As regards further mechanism analysis, we found that UQCRC1 modulated cancer progression via mitochondrial related metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. Taking advantage of the Kras-driven spontaneous LUAD mice model, online single-cell data, and clinical tissues, we particularly confirmed that UQCRC1 was highly expressed in LUAD and acted as a prognostic marker for LUAD. These findings implied that UQCRC1 played an important role in cancers, especially in LUAD.