Pan‐Cancer Analysis of Ezrin: A Comprehensive Examination of Its Prognostic Value and Immunological Implications

Abstract

BackgroundEzrin, a member of the ERM protein family, has emerged as a pivotal player in the progression of diverse tumor types and exhibits substantial immunomodulatory capabilities in inflammatory disorders and tumor‐associated immune reactions. Studies have validated the antitumor efficacy of ezrin inhibitors. However, a comprehensive pan‐cancer analysis to fully elucidate the functional implications of ezrin has not been performed.MethodsHerein, we performed a multifaceted database investigation to evaluate ezrin expression patterns in relation to clinical outcomes, immune checkpoint modulators, prognostic indicators, genomic profiles, and immunological features.ResultsOur analysis revealed distinct ezrin expression patterns across various cancers, with a pronounced association between ezrin expression and immune cell infiltration. Furthermore, drug sensitivity assessments using the GDSC and CTRP databases underscored a robust correlation between ezrin expression and responsiveness to anticancer agents, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. Notably, ezrin expression also correlated with patient survival outcomes in the context of anti‐PD1 therapy treatment, suggesting its potential role as a predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint blockade therapies.ConclusionOur results indicate ezrin as a promising immunomodulatory target and a valuable diagnostic and prognostic marker for select cancer types. However, the intricate mechanisms underlying ezrin involvement in tumor immune responses necessitate further in‐depth investigation to fully harness its therapeutic and prognostic potential.