Comprehensive Pan-Cancer Analysis Identifies POFUT1 as a Prognostic Biomarker and Potential Therapeutic Target...

Aberrant protein O-fucosylation mediated by protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 (POFUT1), has emerged as a hallmark of tumorigenesis that regulates key signaling pathways, including Notch, which is frequently dysregulated in cancers. Protein O-fucosylation, catalyzed by POFUT1, regulates Notch signaling and has been implicated in individual cancers, but its pan-cancer expression patterns, clinical significance, and relationship to tumor immunity remain incompletely characterized.

We conducted a multi-omics bioinformatics analysis using TCGA and other public datasets to evaluate POFUT1 expression across 33 cancer types (n > 10,000). Differential expressions, tumor stage correlations, and survival outcomes were assessed. Immune cell infiltration was estimated using SangerBox and TIMER algorithms, while promoter methylation patterns were analyzed through UALCAN. Functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction networks were constructed to elucidate functional mechanism. Western blot validation in prostate and ovarian cancer cell lines confirmed our computational analysis.

POFUT1 showed significant overexpression in 16 of 33 cancer types (FDR-adjusted p < 0.05), with the highest elevation in BRCA (breast invasive carcinoma; log2FC = 2.31) and LUAD (lung adenocarcinoma; log2FC = 2.1). A high POFUT1 expression correlated with poor overall survival in eight cancer types (HR range: 1.8-3.2, p < 0.01) and disease-free survival in seven cancers. POFUT1 levels positively correlated with myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) infiltrating in 15 cancer types, while inversely correlated with natural killer T (NKT) cells presence in 15 cancers (mean R = -0.34, p < 0.05), indicating an association with immunosuppressive microenvironments. Promoter hypomethylation in tumors suggested epigenetic dysregulation as a potential driver of its overexpression. Western blot analysis confirmed POFUT1 protein upregulations in prostate and ovarian cancer cell lines (1.7-2.1-fold. p < 0.01), corroborating transcriptomic findings.

This pan-cancer study establishes POFUT1 as a critical oncogenic factor linked to aggressive disease, immune evasion, and poor prognosis. Its consistent overexpression and functional impact highlight its potential as a biomarker and target for anticancer therapy. While these computational findings require experimental validation, POFUT1 emerges as a candidate biomarker warranting functional studies and potential therapeutic targeting.