Prognostic Implication of a Novel Four Pyroptosis-Associated Gene Signature in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Liver carcinoma is the fourth most common cause of tumor-associated death worldwide. Our study is mainly aimed to explore whether the pyroptosis-associated gene signature can be an independent predicative factor for the prognosis of HCC patients.

Methods: The expression profiles of HCC patients extracted from The Cancer Genome ATLAS (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) public database were used to discover the probable predicative gene for the prognosis. The least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO) COX regression was utilized to construct a novel four pyroptosis-gene model.

Results: The novel pyroptosis-associated gene model was successfully developed according to the optimum λ value. The model had a good predicative value and was validated by a test group from ICGC database.

Conclusions: Novel pyroptosis-associated gene model can be served as an independent predicative factor for prognosis of HCC patients. Furthermore, pyroptosis-associated genes may play a significant role in tumor progression and immunotherapy.

Funding Information: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Declaration of Interests: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Keywords: pyroptosis-associated gene, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Prognostic, TCGA, ICGC, risk model