Abstract
Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common subtype of thyroid cancer, and inflammation relates significantly to its initiation and prognosis. Systematic exploration of the immunogenomic landscape therein to assist in PTC prognosis is therefore urgent. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project provides a large number of genetic PTC samples that enable a comprehensive and reliable immunogenomic study. Hence, we integrated the expression profiles of immune-related genes (IRGs) and progression-free intervals (PFIs) in survival in 493 PTC patients based on the TCGA dataset. We first defined differentially-expressed and survival-associated IRGs in PTC patients with a computational difference algorithm and COX regression analysis. The potential molecular mechanisms and properties of these PTC-specific IRGs were also explored with the help of computational biology. A new prognostic index based on immune-related genes was developed, which proved adept at evaluating the PFIs of PTC patients. Relationships between the prognostic index and several clinical and demographic characteristics were also characterized. Intriguingly, the prognostic index based on IRGs reflected infiltration by several types of immune cells. Together, our results screened several IRGs of clinical significance, revealed drivers of the immune repertoire, and demonstrated the importance of a personalized, IRG-based immune signature in the recognition, surveillance, and prognosis of PTC. Funding: This study was supported by grants from Innovation Project of Guangxi Graduate Education (YCSW2018104), Guangxi Medical University Training Program for Distinguished Young Scholars, Medical Excellence Award Funded by the Creative Research Development Grant from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University and Fund of Guangxi Provincial Health Bureau Scientific Research Project (Z2018). Declaration of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest.
Highlights
Thyroid cancer accounts for > 90% of endocrine system malignancies, and its incidence rate is on the rise [1,2,3,4,5]
For the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, cytokinecytokine receptor inter-actions were most often enriched by differentially expressed immune‐related genes (IRGs) (Figure 2B)
To explore potential molecular mechanisms corresponding to the clinical significance of our hub IRGs, we investigated the regulatory mechanisms of these genes
Summary
Thyroid cancer accounts for > 90% of endocrine system malignancies, and its incidence rate is on the rise [1,2,3,4,5]. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most common subtype of thyroid cancer, accounts for 80% of reported cases [7,8,9,10,11]. Methods: We integrated the expression profiles of immune‐related genes (IRGs) and progression‐free intervals (PFIs) in survival in 493 PTC patients based on the TCGA dataset. A new prognostic index based on immune‐related genes was developed by using multivariable COX analysis. Results: A total of 46 differentially expressed immune‐related genes were significantly correlated with clinical outcome of PTC patients. Conclusions: Together, our results screened several IRGs of clinical significance, revealed drivers of the immune repertoire, and demonstrated the importance of a personalized, IRG‐based immune signature in the recognition, surveillance, and prognosis of PTC
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