Integrated RNA sequencing analysis and machine learning identifies a metabolism-related prognostic signature in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Journal: Scientific reports
PMID:

Abstract

The connection between metabolic reprogramming and tumor progression has been demonstrated in an increasing number of researches. However, further research is required to identify how metabolic reprogramming affects interpatient heterogeneity and prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). In this work, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) based deconvolution was utilized to create a malignant cell hierarchy with metabolic differences and to investigate the relationship between metabolic biomarkers and prognosis. Simultaneously, we created a machine learning-based approach for creating metabolism-related prognostic signature (MRPS). Gamma-glutamyltransferase 6 (GGT6) was further explored for deep biological insights through in vitro experiments. Compared to 51 published signatures and conventional clinical features, MRPS showed substantially higher accuracy. Meanwhile, high MRPS-risk samples demonstrated an immunosuppressive phenotype with more infiltrations of regulatory T cell (Treg) and tumour-associated macrophage (TAM). Following the administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), MRPS showed consistent and strong performance and was an independent risk factor for overall survival. GGT6, an essential metabolic indicator and component of MRPS, has been proven to support proliferation and invasion in ccRCC. MRPS has the potential to be a highly effective tool in improving the clinical results of patients with ccRCC.

Authors

  • Yunxun Liu
    Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
  • Zhiwei Yan
    College of Kinesiology, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China.
  • Cheng Liu
    Key Lab of Environmental Optics and Technology, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China; School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China. Electronic address: chliu81@ustc.edu.cn.
  • Rui Yang
    Department of Biomedical Informatics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore.
  • Qingyuan Zheng
    Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
  • Jun Jian
    Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
  • Minghui Wang
    College of Chemistry and Material Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, PR China.
  • Lei Wang
    Department of Nursing, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
  • Xiaodong Weng
    Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
  • Zhiyuan Chen
    Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
  • Xiuheng Liu
    Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.