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Systematic analysis of immune-related genes based on a combination of multiple databases to build a diagnostic and a prognostic risk model for hepatocellular carcinoma

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Abstract

The immune microenvironment plays a vital role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thousands of immune-related genes (IRGs) have been identified, but their effects on HCC are not fully understood. In this study, we identified the differentially expressed IRGs and analyzed their functions in HCC in a systematic way. Furthermore, we constructed a diagnostic and a prognostic model using multiple statistical methods, and both models had good distinguishing performance, which we verified in several independent datasets. This diagnostic model was also adaptable to proteomic data. The combination of a prognostic risk model and classic clinical staging can effectively distinguish patients in high- and low-risk groups. Furthermore, we systematically explore the differences in the immune microenvironment between the high-risk group and the low-risk group to help clinical decision-making. In summary, we systematically analyzed immune-related genes in HCC, explored their functions, constructed a diagnostic and a prognostic model and investigated potential therapeutic schedules in high-risk patients. The model performance was verified in multiple databases. Our findings can provide directions for future research.

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Funding

This project was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81170442, 81470899), National Scholarship Foundation (No. 201208505116), and Outstanding young talent fund of the second hospital of CQMU (2011).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China

    Di-guang Wen, Xiao-ping Zhao, Yu You & Zuo-jin Liu

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  1. Di-guang Wen
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  2. Xiao-ping Zhao
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  3. Yu You
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Contributions

WDG, ZXP and LZJ performed research and wrote the first draft. WDG and LZJ collected and analyzed the data. WDG, YY and LZJ participated in manuscript revision. All authors contributed to the design and interpretation of the study and to further drafts. LZJ is the guarantor.

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Correspondence to Zuo-jin Liu.

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Wen, Dg., Zhao, Xp., You, Y. et al. Systematic analysis of immune-related genes based on a combination of multiple databases to build a diagnostic and a prognostic risk model for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 70, 773–786 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-020-02733-2

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