FIGNL1 Expression and its Prognostic Significance in Pan-cancer Analysis

Abstract

Background: Fidgetin-like 1 (FIGNL1), a subfamily member of ATPases, is associated with diverse cellular activities (AAA proteins). FIGNL1 is involved in DNA repair. However, the latest study has indicated that FIGNL1 plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of malignant tumors.

Methods: FIGNL1 expression was analyzed via Oncomine and GEPIA databases, and its prognostic potential was analyzed using OncoLnc, UALCAN, and GEPIA databases. Moreover, the promoter methylation of FIGNL1 was analyzed through the UALCAN database. FIGNL1-related gene network was found within STRING. Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were investigated across WebGestalt. FIGNL1 correlation with cancer immune infiltrates was estimated using the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database.

Results: We found that FIGNL1 is widely overexpressed in multiple human cancers, and its high expression was correlated with the poor prognosis of patients with kidney renal clear-cell carcinoma (KIRP), low-grade glioma (LGG) of brain and liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). Additionally, the promoter methylation level of FIGNL1 showed a statistical significance between normal and primary tissues in KIRP and LGG via the UALCAN (P < 0.0001). FIGNL1 expression was highly correlated with the infiltrating levels of CD8+ T and CD4+ T cells, dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and neutrophils in LIHC.

Conclusions: In this study, the correlation of FIGNL1 expression with the prognosis, promoter methylation, and immune infiltrates in KIRP, LGG, and LIHC was revealed. These findings suggested that FIGNL1 promised to be a prognostic biomarker for KIRP, LGG, and LIHC.

Keywords: FIGNL1; expression; methylation; mutation; pan-cancer; prognosis biomarker.