Comprehensive Pan-Cancer Analysis of ZNF668 Reveals the Prognostic and Immunological Significance of ZNF668

Transcription factors from the Zinc Finger Protein (ZFP) family are extensively implicated in tumorigenesis, yet the roles of many members, such as ZNF668, remain uncharacterized. This study presents a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of ZNF668, investigating its expression profiles, genetic alterations, functional pathways, association with immune infiltration, and clinical correlations across cancer types from TCGA. Our pan-cancer analysis identifies ZNF668 as a frequently overexpressed gene with significant diagnostic and prognostic value. Its overexpression, often driven by gene amplification, is linked to fundamental cellular processes such as RNA splicing and transcriptional regulation. Critically, ZNF668 is implicated in promoting a state of adaptive immune resistance. While its expression positively correlates with the immunogenic MSI phenotype and suggests T-cell infiltration, this is likely offset by a dual immunosuppressive mechanism comprising a strong association with a cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-driven, T-cell-exhausted TME and a concurrent suppression of neutrophil recruitment. Furthermore, molecular docking identified Dasatinib as a potential ZNF668 inhibitor. These findings establish ZNF668 as a key regulator of CAF-mediated immune suppression, presenting it as a novel therapeutic target for restoring effective anti-tumor immunity.