A novel prognostic model for predicting patient survival and immunotherapy responsiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma: insights into the involvement of T-cell proliferation

Abstract

Background The cancer-associated biological mechanisms and the implementation of immunotherapy are heavily impacted by the activities of T cells, consequently influencing the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. Nevertheless, the mechanistic actions of T-cell proliferation in response to immunotherapy and the overall prognosis of individuals diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains insufficiently understood. The present work seeks to present a comprehensive analysis immune landscape in the context of HCC. Methods To achieve this objective, both clinical data and RNA sequencing data were acquired from authoritative databases such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Results Through the utilization of consensus clustering techniques, distinct molecular subtypes associated with T-cell proliferation were delineated. Following this, seven genes of prognostic significance were identified via a combination of Cox and Lasso regression analyses. By integrating these genes into a prognostic signature, the predictive capability of the model was verified through an examination of internal and external datasets. Moreover, immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR tests have verified the reliability of prognostic markers. Notably, the high-risk group exhibited elevated expression of immune checkpoint genes as well as higher benefit in terms of drug sensitivity testing, as determined by the Chi-square test (P < 0.001). The risk score derived from the prognostic signature depicted considerable efficacy in predicting the survival outcomes of HCC cases. Conclusions Overall, prognostic markers may become valuable predictive tool for individuals diagnosed with HCC, allowing for the prediction of their prognosis as well as the assessment of their immunological condition and response to immunotherapy.