鉴定肝细胞癌中与端粒相关基因特征用于免疫细胞浸润和预后

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with poor clinical outcomes. Telomere maintenance is crucial for tumor cell proliferation, yet the role of telomere-related genes (TRGs) in HCC prognosis remains unclear. This study aimed to identify TRG-based prognostic signatures and to evaluate their associations with immune cell infiltration and drug responsiveness in HCC.

TRGs were analyzed for survival significance with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. A prognostic model was constructed using sequential statistical approaches. A nomogram incorporating clinical parameters was generated for patient survival estimation. Risk stratification classified HCC patients. Model accuracy was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Immune cell infiltration and drug responsiveness were compared across groups.

A seven-gene prognostic signature ( SLC7A11, BRSK2, ABCC8, AKR1B10, ALDH2, HMMR and PCP4 ) was established to evaluate HCC prognosis. An integrated nomogram estimating survival in patients was formulated. High-risk (HR) patients had significantly lower survival than low-risk (LR) patients. Functional analysis showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in nuclear division, chromosomal organization and cell cycle regulation pathways critical for HCC progression. Immune analysis indicated a negative correlation between risk score and the abundance of specific immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells and memory CD4 + T cells. Five therapeutic agents had lower half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values in HR patients.

This study identified significant associations between DEGs and HCC prognosis, highlighting their potential as biomarkers. The findings suggest applications for prognostic scoring systems in clinical decision-making, therapeutic regimen selection and immunotherapy approaches for HCC patients.