Open AccessPyroptosis patterns and immune infiltrates characterization in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Deng Hongxia,
Wei Zhengyu,
Qiu Shijie,
Ye Dong,
Gu Shanshan,
Shen Yi,
Shen Zhisen,
Jin Yangli,
Zhou Chongchang
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/jcla.24292
Subject(s) - pyroptosis , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , immune system , medicine , immunotherapy , oncology , cancer research , head and neck cancer , immunology , inflammation , cancer , inflammasome
Background Pyroptosis plays an essential role in tumor immune responses and inflammation related to chemotherapy. Herein, we studied the characteristic patterns of pyroptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to determine their prognostic and therapeutic effects. Methods Consensus clustering analysis was performed to classify patients into pyroptosis or gene clusters. A novel pyroptosis score was constructed by principal component analysis. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to show the prognostic value. We also assessed the functional enrichment, tumor mutation burden, immune cell infiltration, and the sensitivity to chemotherapy and immunotherapy between high and low pyroptosis score group. Results Two distinct pyroptosis clusters were defined based on the mRNA expression profiles of PRGs, which were related to immune activation in HNSCC. Notably, a pyroptosis score was constructed according to different expression gene signatures, and then, each HNSCC patient was classified into a low or high pyroptosis score group. Patients with low pyroptosis scores had better immunotherapeutic responses and higher sensitivities to chemotherapeutic agents (paclitaxel, docetaxel, and gemcitabine). Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that the pyroptosis patterns were independent prognostic indicators regardless of the level of tumor mutation burden. Conclusions Pyroptosis plays an essential role in immune infiltration in HNSCC. Quantifying the pyroptosis score of individual patients might suggest prognostic, immunotherapeutic, and chemotherapeutic strategies for HNSCC.