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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research

A novel gene expression signature-based on B-cell proportion to predict prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma

Authors: Yi Zhang, Xuewen Yin, Qi Wang, Xuming Song, Wenjie Xia, Qixing Mao, Bing Chen, Yingkuan Liang, Te Zhang, Lin Xu, Feng Jiang, Xinyu Xu, Gaochao Dong

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

This study aimed to develop a reliable immune signature based on B-cell proportion to predict the prognosis and benefit of immunotherapy in LUAD.

Methods

The proportion of immune cells in the TCGA-LUAD dataset was estimated using MCP-counter. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selector Operation was used to identify a prognostic signature and validated in an independent cohort. We used quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) data and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens immunohistochemistry to illustrate the correlation between prognostic signature and leukocyte migration.

Results

We found that the relative abundance of B lineage positively correlated with overall survival. Then, we identified a 13-gene risk-score prognostic signature based on B lineage abundance in the testing cohort and validated it in a cohort from the GEO dataset. This model remained strongly predictive of prognoses across clinical subgroups. Further analysis revealed that patients with a low-risk score were characterized by B-cell activation and leukocyte migration, which was also confirmed in FFPE specimens by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Finally, this immune signature was an independent prognostic factor in the composite nomogram of clinical characteristics.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the 13-gene immune signature based on B-cell proportion may serve as a powerful prognostic tool in LUAD.

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Title: A novel gene expression signature-based on B-cell proportion to predict prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Yi Zhang
Xuewen Yin
Qi Wang
Xuming Song
Wenjie Xia
Qixing Mao
Bing Chen
Yingkuan Liang
Te Zhang
Lin Xu
Feng Jiang
Xinyu Xu
Gaochao Dong
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08805-5

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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