Breast cancer tumor immune microenvironment landscape identifies prognostic risk genes and potential drugs

Breast cancer (BRCA) is the most common type of cancer among women. The tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) influences the early progression of BRCA and is related to its clinical characteristics and outcomes. But the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, four synergistic TIM-prognosis-related genes (CD1C, CD40LG, CXCR3, CD69) were obtained which were significantly associated with tumor purity, and higher TIM-related immune activity was associated with improved prognosis in BRCA patients. A microRNA-mRNA-transcription factor regulatory network was established, revealing upstream regulators of these genes. Furthermore, fourteen candidate drugs targeting this network were predicted, and structural analogs of Lumacaftor and Ivosidenib showed promising docking affinities to CD1C and CXCR3, respectively. These findings provide preliminary insights into TIM-associated prognostic pathways and suggest candidate compounds for further investigation in BRCA.