A New Prognostic and Therapeutic Immune-related Risk Signature of Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough some advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) patients could select immunotherapy, but still most microsatellite stability (MSS) CRC patients did not respond. Our present study aims to set up a novel system for prognostic prediction and immunotherapeutic responsiveness for MSS CRC patients.MethodsUnivariable Cox regression survival analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selector operation (LASSO) regression analysis were performed to identify prognostic genes and establish immune risk signatures. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to verify whether these clinical features could predict prognosis. R package was used to analyze the relationship between the immune-related risk model and these immune cells, effector molecules, and immune checkpoints.ResultsWe constructed an immune-related signature and verified its predictive capability. Immune-related signature included 12 differentially expressed IRGs (12 DE IR MSSGs), including CXCL1, CD36, FABP4, MS4A2, NRG1, VGF, GRP, HDC, XCL1, NGF, MAGEA1, and IL13. The signature consisting of 12 DE IR MSSGs was an independent and effective prognostic factor for the overall survival of CRC patients. In addition, the signature consisting of 12 DE IR MSSGs reflected the infiltration characteristics of different immunocytes in tumor immune microenvironment. The signature consisting of 12 DE IR MSSGs also had a significant correlation with immune checkpoint molecules.