Integrative analysis of lysosome-dependent cell death related molecular subtypes and prognosis prediction in papillary thyroid carcinoma

TL;DR

This study explores how lysosome-dependent cell death relates to papillary thyroid cancer prognosis and identifies a gene signature for risk prediction.

Contribution

A novel six-gene signature linked to lysosome-dependent cell death is developed for papillary thyroid carcinoma prognosis.

Findings

Three molecular subtypes with distinct immune and prognostic profiles were identified based on lysosome-dependent cell death-related genes.

A six-gene signature effectively stratifies patients into high- and low-risk groups with different survival outcomes.

LMTK3 knockdown reduced PTC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.

Abstract

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most common thyroid malignancy, shows marked clinical heterogeneity despite generally favorable outcomes. Lysosome-dependent cell death (LDCD), a form of programmed death triggered by lysosomal membrane permeabilization, has emerged as a potential cancer therapy target, but its role in PTC remains unclear.

Transcriptomic data from public cohorts were analyzed to identify LDCD-related genes (LDCDRG) associated with PTC prognosis. Cox analysis and LASSO regression analyses were performed to construct a prognostic model. Immune landscape, drug sensitivity, and single-cell expression profiles were examined. Functional experiments were conducted in vitro to verify the biological effects of the key gene LMTK3 on PTC cell proliferation, viability, and invasion.

Nineteen LDCDRG were differentially expressed between normal and tumor tissues, defining three molecular subtypes with distinct immune and prognostic profiles. A six-LDCDRG signature (LMTK3, MCM5, NXF1, TUBB4B, LIMCH1 and APH1B) effectively stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups with significantly different survival outcomes and acceptable predictive performance. High-risk patients showed reduced immune infiltration and lower predicted immunotherapy-related immune activity. LMTK3, the highest-risk gene, was highly expressed in PTC cells, and its knockdown suppressed proliferation and invasion in vitro.

The established six-LDCDRG signature provides an exploratory tool for risk stratification and survival prediction, while LMTK3 emerges as potential target worthy of further investigation. These findings deepen our understanding of lysosome-dependent cell death in thyroid carcinogenesis and may provide insights into the development of personalized management strategies and novel treatment approaches for high-risk PTC patients.

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