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Updated: Jan 17, 2026
Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
Published on: April 22, 2019
High expression of a novel m6A reader LRPPRC predicts immunotherapy response and prognosis in head and neck cancer
Karpakavinayakam Gopalakrishnan1, Balachander Kannan2, Vijayashree Priyadharsini Jayaseelan3
1Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, TN, India; Molecular Biology Lab, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, TN, India.
Objective:
In this study, we examine the role of the leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing gene (LRPPRC) as a new m6A reader in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We also analyze its expression pattern, prognostic significance, and response to immunotherapy.
Design:
LRPPRC expression was comprehensively analyzed in HNSCC using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas Head-Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (TCGA-HNSC) and then validated in an independent patient cohort using real-time qPCR. The study further investigated the correlations between LRPPRC expression and methylation status, as well as their associations with clinicopathological features, patient prognosis, and immune profiles. Additionally, the impact of LRPPRC expression on the response to immunotherapy was assessed.
Results:
We found that LRPPRC is significantly upregulated in HNSCC tissues and correlates with advanced clinicopathological features, nodal metastasis, and poor survival outcomes. In contrast, the DNA methylation level of LRPPRC was found to be reduced in HNSCC. Furthermore, LRPPRC expression is significantly correlated with infiltration of immune cells, specifically in CD4⁺ T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Importantly, the expression of LRPPRC has been found to be a predictor of resistance to immunotherapy in patients with HNSCC.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that LRPPRC may serve as a promising biomarker for HNSCC prognosis and a therapeutic target for controlling cancer metastases and enhancing patient outcomes, while being a predictor for immune therapy response as well.
