Pan-cancer analysis identifies DBF4B as an immunologic and prognostic biomarker

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Cancer Research
• Genomics

Background:

• DBF4 zinc finger B (DBF4B) regulates CDC7 proteins, crucial for DNA replication initiation.
• Previous research on DBF4B is limited, lacking comprehensive analysis across diverse cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate DBF4B's differential expression, prognostic value, and associations with genomic, molecular, immune, and clinical factors in pan-cancer analysis.
• To explore DBF4B's role in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) concerning clinical parameters and survival outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a publicly available database for comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of DBF4B.
• Examined DBF4B expression, differential expression, prognosis, gene mutations, molecular/immune subtypes, immune infiltration, methylation, and drug sensitivity.
• Correlated DBF4B expression with clinical factors and survival in LIHC.

Main Results:

• DBF4B exhibited significant differential expression in most cancer types and subtypes.
• DBF4B expression was linked to prognosis in a subset of cancers.
• In LIHC, DBF4B expression correlated with age, gender, BMI, tumor status, and predicted poorer survival (OS, DSS, PFI).

Conclusions:

• DBF4B serves as a potential pan-cancer molecular biomarker for immunology and prognosis.
• DBF4B is an independent prognostic risk factor for liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC).