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Cancer Cell International
Published in: Cancer Cell International 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | NSCLC | Primary research

Ferroptosis-related gene AKR1C1 predicts the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer

Authors: Fangfang Huang, Yushi Zheng, Xiaoling Li, Hui Luo, Lianxiang Luo

Published in: Cancer Cell International | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered mode of cell death distinct from apoptosis and necrosis, and its activation contributes to anticancer therapy in a variety of cancers. However, the prognostic value of ferroptosis-related genes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains to be further investigated.

Methods

NSCLC transcriptome mRNA-seq data set and corresponding clinical data set were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Then, bioinformatics approaches were subsequently employed to identify potential prognostic markers. Finally, the effects of candidate markers on NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and ferroptosis were assessed by CCK8, colony formation, wound-healing assay, and functional assays related to ferroptosis.

Results

A total of 37 common differentially expressed genes were screened based TCGA database. Six overall survival associated genes (ENPP2, ULK1, CP, LURAP1L, HIC1, AKR1C1) were selected to build survival model, of which hub gene AKR1C1 was with high expression and low ferroptosis level in NSCLC tumor. Further research showed that AKR1C1 was related with many pathways involved in the process of ferroptosis and associated with diverse cancer-infiltrating immune cells. Moreover, the results of in vitro experiments indicated that the expression of AKR1C1 was upregulated in NSCLC cell lines, and silencing AKR1C1 can inhibit the proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells and promote the occurrence of ferroptosis.

Conclusions

Our study revealed the potential role of ferroptosis-related gene AKR1C1 in NSCLC, which can be used for prognostic prediction in NSCLC.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Ferroptosis-related gene AKR1C1 predicts the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer
Authors
Fangfang Huang
Yushi Zheng
Xiaoling Li
Hui Luo
Lianxiang Luo
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Cancer Cell International / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2867
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-021-02267-2

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