The supramolecular polymer-related signature predicts prognosis and indicates immune microenvironment infiltration in gastric cancer

TL;DR

This study identifies a genetic signature linked to gastric cancer prognosis and immune response, offering potential for personalized treatment strategies.

Contribution

A novel prognostic signature based on supramolecular polymer-related genes is developed for gastric cancer.

Findings

182 SPRGs were upregulated and 226 downregulated in gastric cancer.

SPI distinguished high-risk and low-risk patients and correlated with clinical features and immune infiltration.

KLC1 knockdown reduced cancer cell proliferation and metastasis.

Abstract

•Supramolecular Polymer-Related Genes (SPRGs) was associated with Gastric Cancer (GC).•A prognostic signature was constructed based on SPRGs for GC patients.•A nomogram was constructed for prognostic evaluation in GC patients.•KLC1 was confirmed to promote proliferation, metastasis, and invasion in GC cells.

Supramolecular Polymer-Related Genes (SPRGs) was associated with Gastric Cancer (GC).

A prognostic signature was constructed based on SPRGs for GC patients.

A nomogram was constructed for prognostic evaluation in GC patients.

KLC1 was confirmed to promote proliferation, metastasis, and invasion in GC cells.

Gastric Cancer (GC) remains a leading global cause of cancer mortality, underscoring the urgent need for advanced prognostic tools. This study aimed to construct and evaluate a prognostic risk signature based on Supramolecular Polymer-Related Genes (SPRGs) in gastric cancer.

The authors downloaded data from TCGA-STAD, GEO, and CCLE databases for patients with GC and validation cohorts. Through consensus clustering, Cox proportional hazards models, LASSO Cox regression, and nomogram development, the authors identified and constructed a GC Prognostic risk Index (SPI). Additionally, the authors conducted drug sensitivity analysis and immune landscape assessment. Functional evaluations were conducted through colony formation, transwell invasion, and wound healing assays.

The authors identified that 182 SPRGs were significantly upregulated and 226 were downregulated in gastric cancer. Consensus clustering revealed two molecular subtypes, with cluster 1 having significantly lower overall survival compared to cluster 2. SPI effectively distinguished high-risk and low-risk patients across all cohorts. Furthermore, SPI was associated with tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and tumor size, and could predict drug sensitivity in GC patients. Immune landscape analysis showed higher infiltration of naïve B cells, M2 macrophages, and activated NK cells in high-SPI patients. A nomogram model for GC prognosis using SPI and patient age was developed. KLC1 knockdown significantly suppressed GC cell proliferation, while markedly attenuating metastatic potential and invasion capacity.

This study constructed a prognostic risk signature based on SPRGs in gastric cancer, which is closely related to clinical pathological features, drug sensitivity, and immune landscape, providing new insights for personalized treatment.

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