Identification of necroptosis-related signature and tumor microenvironment infiltration characteristics in lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Objectives: Lung cancer remains the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths. However, the potential roles of necroptosis-related signature and tumor microenvironment (TME) in the lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) still unknown.

Materials and methods: Expression data and clinical information were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. In the TCGA dataset, necroptosis phenotype-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. A necroticscore score was developed and validated by integrating GEO-meta datasets. The clinical value of the risk score was further evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and immunotherapeutic cohort (IMvigor210 cohort).

Results: Three necroptosis-related patterns and distinct necroptosis-related gene cluster were identified based on the abnormal expression of 14 necroptosis regulators. The necroptosis genomic phenotypes were obtained based on 117 necroptosis phenotype-related DEGs. A necroticscore were constructed to evaluate necroptosis pattern of each patient. Low necroticscore was linked with decreased immune check-point expression, enhanced immune check-point inhibitor response, and better clinical benefits.

Conclusion: This study suggested that the crucial roles of necroptosis-related regulators in modeling the heterogeneity of TME characteristics. Thus, assessing necroptosis patterns provided us with a deeper understanding of TME and might guide the clinical immunotherapy treatment of lung cancer.

Keywords: Immunotherapy; Lung adenocarcinoma; Necroptosis; Prognosis; Tumour microenvironment.