Potential predictive value of SCN4A mutation status for immune checkpoint inhibitors in melanoma

Biomed Pharmacother. 2020 Nov:131:110633. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110633. Epub 2020 Sep 3.

Abstract

Melanoma refers to a pigmented nevus with malignant changes. The preferred treatment for primary melanoma is surgical excision and postoperative radiotherapy, but the prognosis is poor. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been remarkably successful in different types of cancers, but not all cancer patients can benefit from it. Therefore, it is essential to find predictable biomarkers and improve the accuracy of treatment. In this study, we used survival analysis, gene panorama analysis, immune cell enrichment analysis, TMB analysis, and GSEA to demonstrate that SCN4A gene mutations may be used as one of the indicators to predict the prognosis of melanoma patients undergoing ICI treatment. The research further indicates that SCN4A gene mutations improve the prognosis of ICI treatment. It is hoped that the effect of SCN4A on immunogenicity and tumor immunity can be demonstrated to further suggest the effect of this gene on the efficacy of ICIs.

Keywords: DDR; Immune checkpoint inhibitor; Melanoma; SCN4A; TMB.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / immunology
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Immunotherapy / trends
  • Male
  • Melanoma / drug therapy
  • Melanoma / genetics*
  • Melanoma / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • NAV1.4 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / genetics*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • NAV1.4 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel
  • SCN4A protein, human