Tertiary Lymphoid Structures Gene Signature Predicts Prognosisand Immune Infiltration Analysis in Head and Neck Squamous CellCarcinoma

作者：Ai‐Yan Xing, Dongxiao Lv, Changshun Wu, Kai Zhou, Tianhui Zhao, Lihua Zhao, Huaqing Wang, Hong Feng · 发表于：Current Genomics · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.2174/0113892029278082240118053857 · 被引用次数：26 · 研究领域：Ferroptosis and cancer prognosis、Head and Neck Cancer Studies、Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers

Objectives: This study aims to assess the prognostic implications of gene signature of the tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and scrutinize the influence of TLS on immune infiltration. Methods: Patients with HNSCC from the Cancer Genome Atlas were categorized into high/low TLS signature groups based on the predetermined TLS signature threshold. The association of the TLS signature with the immune microenvironment, driver gene mutation status, and tumor mutational load was systematically analyzed. Validation was conducted using independent datasets (GSE41613 and GSE102349). Results: Patients with a high TLS signature score exhibited better prognosis compared to those with a low TLS signature score. The group with a high TLS signature score had significantly higher immune cell subpopulations compared to the group with a low TLS signature score. Moreover, the major immune cell subpopulations and immune circulation characteristics in the tumor immune microenvironment were positively correlated with the TLS signature. Mutational differences in driver genes were observed between the TLS signature high/low groups, primarily in the cell cycle and NRF2 signaling pathways. Patients with TP53 mutations and high TLS signature scores demonstrated a better prognosis compared to those with TP53 wild-type. In the independent cohort, the relationship between TLS signatures and patient prognosis and immune infiltration was also confirmed. Addi...