Identification of TUBB2A As a Cancer-Immunity Cycle-Related Therapeutic Target in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Overview

Journal Mol Biotechnol

Publisher Springer

Specialties Biotechnology
Molecular Biology

Date 2023 Sep 24

PMID 37742297

Authors

Jia Li

Jingchun Yao

Liqiang Qi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a malignant subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of ER, PR, and HER2. We aimed to explore target gene from the perspective of cancer-immunity cycle, providing insights into treatment of TNBC.

Methods: We obtained TNBC samples from METABRIC database and downloaded 4 datasets from GEO database, as well as an IMvigor210 dataset. WGCNA was applied to screen genes associated with cancer-immunity cycle in TNBC. GO, KEGG and GSEA analyses were performed to explore the target gene's potential functions and pathways. The binding motifs with transcription factors were predicted with FIMO. Immune infiltration analysis was conducted by CIBERSORT.

Results: TUBB2A was screened out as our target gene which was negatively correlated with T cell recruitment in cancer-immunity cycle. TUBB2A expressed higher in TNBC samples than in normal samples. High expression of TUBB2A was associated with poor prognosis of TNBC. 12 transcription factors and 5 miRNAs might regulate TUBB2A's expression. The infiltration ratios of 7 types of immune cells such as CD8 T cells, naive CD4 T cells and activated memory CD4 T cells were significantly lower in TUBB2A high expression group. TUBB2A was a potential drug target.

Conclusion: We screened a cancer-immunity cycle-related gene TUBB2A which was negatively correlated with T cell recruiting in TNBC. TUBB2A expressed higher in TNBC samples than in normal samples, associated with poor prognosis.

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