Comprehensive analysis of prognostic value and immunotherapy prospect of brain cytoplasmic RNA1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Xiao-Yong Han; Xiong Li; Rang-Yin Zhao; Hai-Zhong Ma; Miao Yu; Xiang-Dong Niu; Hao-Jie Jin; Yong-Feng Wang; De-Ming Liu; Hui Cai

doi:10.4251/wjgo.v15.i4.644

Comprehensive analysis of prognostic value and immunotherapy prospect of brain cytoplasmic RNA1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2023 Apr 15;15(4):644-664. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i4.644.

Authors

Xiao-Yong Han^{1

2

3}, Xiong Li^{1

2}, Rang-Yin Zhao^{1

4}, Hai-Zhong Ma^{1

5}, Miao Yu^{1

3}, Xiang-Dong Niu¹, Hao-Jie Jin⁵, Yong-Feng Wang^{1

3

5}, De-Ming Liu¹, Hui Cai^{1

3

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Gansu General Surgery Clinical Medical Center, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China.
² Graduate School, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Precision Medicine for Surgical Oncology in Gansu Province, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China.
⁴ The First Clinical Medical College, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China.
⁵ The First Clinical College of Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China.
⁷ NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China. caialonteam@163.com.

Abstract

Background: The expression of brain cytoplasmic RNA1 (BCYRN1) is linked to the clinicopathology and prognosis of several types of cancers, among which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent types of cancer worldwide.

Aim: To explore the prognostic value and immunotherapeutic potential of BCYRN1 in HCC by bioinformatics and meta-analysis.

Methods: Information was obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. First, the correlation between BCYRN1 expression and prognosis and clinicopathologic characteristics of HCC patients was explored. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between BCYRN1 and HCC prognosis. Secondly, potential functions and pathways were explored by means of enrichment analysis of differentially-expressed genes. The relationships between BCYRN1 expression and tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint, drug sensitivity and immunotherapy effect were also investigated. Finally, three major databases were searched and used to conduct a meta-analysis on the relationship between BCYRN1 expression and patient prognosis.

Results: BCYRN1 expression was significantly higher in HCC compared to normal tissues and was linked to a poor prognosis and clinicopathological characteristics. Enrichment analysis showed that BCYRN1 regulates the extracellular matrix and transmission of signaling molecules, participates in the metabolism of nutrients, such as proteins, and participates in tumor-related pathways. BCYRN1 expression was linked to the tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, drug sensitivity and the efficacy of immunotherapy. Furthermore, the meta-analysis in this study showed that BCYRN1 overexpression was related to a worse outcome in HCC patients.

Conclusion: Overexpression of BCYRN1 relates to poor prognosis and may be a potential prognostic factor and immunotherapeutic target in HCC.

Keywords: Biomarker; Brain cytoplasmic RNA1; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Immunotherapy; Prognostic.