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RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: March 11, 2014
Ferroptosis-Related Gene Signatures: Prognostic Role in HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Deborah Lenoci1, Mara Serena Serafini1, Marta Lucchetta1
1Integrated Biology of Rare Tumors, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy.
Background:
Despite advances in the management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), prognostic models and treatment strategies remain inadequate, particularly for HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The rising incidence of HPV-positive OPSCC highlights an urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches. Ferroptosis, a regulated form of non-apoptotic cell death, has gained attention for its role in cancer progression, but its potential as a prognostic and therapeutic target in HPV-positive OPSCC remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the role of ferroptosis in HPV-positive OPSCC, aiming to identify prognostic markers and provide insights into potential therapeutic strategies that could improve patient outcomes.
Methods:
Thirteen ferroptosis gene expression signatures were retrieved from the literature, and their performance and association to the immune microenvironment were validated on a meta-analysis of 267 HPV-positive cases (Metanalysis-HPV267) and 286 samples from the BD2Decide project (BD2-HPV286).
Results:
Our analysis revealed that specific ferroptosis-related gene expression signatures, particularly FER3, FER4, FER6, and FER12, are significantly associated (p-value < 0.05) with high-risk patient groups and adverse tumor microenvironment features, including suppressed immune activity and enhanced stromal involvement. Elevated expression of CAV1, a ferroptosis suppressor, further delineates high-risk profiles.
Conclusions:
These findings highlight the prognostic significance of ferroptosis in stratifying patients and identifying those with poorer clinical outcomes. Targeting ferroptosis pathways represents a novel and promising approach to addressing the unmet need for effective prognostic and therapeutic strategies in HPV-positive OPSCC. Future research should focus on translating these findings into clinical applications to advance precision oncology and improve outcomes for this growing patient population.
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