Construction of a pathomics model for predicting mRNAsi in lung adenocarcinoma and exploration of biological mechanism

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ObjectiveThis study aimed to predict the level of stemness index (mRNAsi) and survival prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) using pathomics model. MethodsFrom The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, 327 LUAD patients were randomly assigned to a training set (n = 229) and a validation set (n = 98) for pathomics model development and evaluation. PyRadiomics was used to extract pathomics features, followed by feature selection using the mRMR-RFE algorithm. In the training set, Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) was utilized to establish a model for predicting mRNAsi in LUAD. The model's predictive performance was evaluated using ROC curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Prognostic analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier curves and cox regression. Additionally, gene enrichment analysis, tumor microenvironment analysis, and tumor mutational burden (TMB) analysis were performed to explore the biological mechanisms underlying the pathomics prediction model. ResultsMultivariable cox analysis (HR = 1.488, 95 % CI 1.012–2.187, P = 0.043) identified mRNAsi as a prognostic risk factor for LUAD. A total of 465 pathomics features were extracted from TCGA-LUAD histopathological images, and ultimately, the most representative 8 features were selected to construct the predictive model. ROC curves demonstrated the significant predictive value of the model for mRNAsi in both the training set (AUC = 0.769) and the validation set (AUC = 0.757). Calibration curves and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed good consistency between the model's prediction of mRNAsi levels and the actual values. DCA indicated a good net benefit of the model. The prediction of mRNAsi levels by the pathomics model is represented using the pathomics score (PS). PS was strongly associated with the prognosis of LUAD (HR = 1.496, 95 % CI 1.008–2.222, P = 0.046). Signaling pathways related to DNA replication and damage repair were significantly enriched in the high PS group. Prediction of immune therapy response indicated significantly reduced Dysfunction in the high PS group (P < 0.001). The high PS group exhibited higher TMB values (P < 0.001). ConclusionsThe predictive model constructed based on pathomics features can forecast the mRNAsi and survival risk of LUAD. This model holds promise to aid clinical practitioners in identifying high-risk patients and devising more optimized treatment plans for patients by jointly employing therapeutic strategies targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs).