Cuproptosis predicts the risk and clinical outcomes of lung adenocarcinoma

Qin Hu; Runtian Wang; Huiyun Ma; Zhouwei Zhang; Qun Xue

doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.922332

Cuproptosis predicts the risk and clinical outcomes of lung adenocarcinoma

Front Oncol. 2022 Aug 8:12:922332. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.922332. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Qin Hu^{1

2}, Runtian Wang³, Huiyun Ma^{1

2}, Zhouwei Zhang^{1

2}, Qun Xue⁴

Affiliations

¹ Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.
² Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
³ Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
⁴ Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.

Abstract

Copper is an essential microelement for the body and a necessary coregulator for enzymatic reactions, yet an unbalanced copper level promotes reactive oxidation and cytotoxicity, which ultimately induces cell death. Several small molecules targeting copper-induced cell death have been investigated, yet few showed promising therapeutic effects in clinical trials. In March 2022, Science first introduced the concept and mechanisms of cuproptosis, suggesting that copper-induced cell death targets the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle via protein lipoylation. Does this novel form of cell death take part in tumorigenesis or tumor progression? Is cuproptosis related to clinical outcomes of diseases? Is there a cuproptosis-related panel for clinical practice in cancer treatment? Herein, based on 942 samples of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), we analyzed on gene set level the existence and predictive value of cuproptosis in disease diagnosis and treatment. We screened out and identified the "cupLA" panel which indicates the risk of LUAD occurrence, clinicopathological features of LUAD patients, and could guide clinicians to refine LUAD subtypes and make treatment choices.

Keywords: Copper-induced cell death; chemotherapy sensitivity; clinical outcomes; cuproptosis; immunotherapy sensitivity; lung cancer; tumor microenvironment.