Gene expression profiling and pathway analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: focus on disulfidptosis

Abstract This study aimed to characterize the prognostic and therapeutic implications of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Using multi-omics data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (n = 500) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohorts (n = 270), we...

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Main Authors: Yajun Tong, Site Bai, Ludi Ou, Qiang Zhou, Songlian Liu, Leilan Yin, Kewei Tang, Ling Long, Qinghua Yin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-04-01
Series:Discover Oncology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02344-2
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author Yajun Tong
Site Bai
Ludi Ou
Qiang Zhou
Songlian Liu
Leilan Yin
Kewei Tang
Ling Long
Qinghua Yin
author_facet Yajun Tong
Site Bai
Ludi Ou
Qiang Zhou
Songlian Liu
Leilan Yin
Kewei Tang
Ling Long
Qinghua Yin
author_sort Yajun Tong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study aimed to characterize the prognostic and therapeutic implications of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Using multi-omics data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (n = 500) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohorts (n = 270), we performed unsupervised consensus clustering, functional enrichment, immune deconvolution, and survival analyses to identify DRG-driven molecular subtypes. A disulfidptosis score (DRGscore) was developed via principal component analysis of prognosis-associated genes and validated across immunotherapy cohorts. Key results revealed eight DRGs with prognostic significance (P < 0.05), including RAC1 and SLC7A11, which form interaction networks linked to redox regulation and immune evasion. Four DRGclusters stratified patients into subgroups with distinct survival outcomes (P = 0.002), immune profiles, and pathway activities. DRGscore effectively predicted survival (P < 0.001), immunotherapy response (anti-PD1/PD-L1 cohorts: P = 0.0099–0.018), and drug sensitivity (A443654 IC50 = 0.12 μM vs. AICAR = 8.3 μM). Mutational profiling identified TP53 and MUC16 as high-risk biomarkers. These findings establish DRGscore as a robust prognostic tool integrating disulfidptosis biology and immune contexture, enabling risk-stratified therapeutic strategies for HNSCC.
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spelling doaj-art-ec0e6cf4bed54e5f83db1566d8677a382025-08-20T03:18:41ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-04-0116111810.1007/s12672-025-02344-2Gene expression profiling and pathway analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: focus on disulfidptosisYajun Tong0Site Bai1Ludi Ou2Qiang Zhou3Songlian Liu4Leilan Yin5Kewei Tang6Ling Long7Qinghua Yin8Department of Oncology, Yueyang Central Hospital, Hunan ProvinceDepartment of Oncology, Yueyang Central Hospital, Hunan ProvinceDepartment of Oncology, Yueyang Central Hospital, Hunan ProvinceDepartment of Oncology, Yueyang Central Hospital, Hunan ProvinceDepartment of Oncology, Yueyang Central Hospital, Hunan ProvinceDepartment of Oncology, Yueyang Central Hospital, Hunan ProvinceDepartment of Oncology, Yueyang Central Hospital, Hunan ProvinceDepartment of Oncology, Yueyang Central Hospital, Hunan ProvinceDepartment of Oncology, Yueyang Central Hospital, Hunan ProvinceAbstract This study aimed to characterize the prognostic and therapeutic implications of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Using multi-omics data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (n = 500) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohorts (n = 270), we performed unsupervised consensus clustering, functional enrichment, immune deconvolution, and survival analyses to identify DRG-driven molecular subtypes. A disulfidptosis score (DRGscore) was developed via principal component analysis of prognosis-associated genes and validated across immunotherapy cohorts. Key results revealed eight DRGs with prognostic significance (P < 0.05), including RAC1 and SLC7A11, which form interaction networks linked to redox regulation and immune evasion. Four DRGclusters stratified patients into subgroups with distinct survival outcomes (P = 0.002), immune profiles, and pathway activities. DRGscore effectively predicted survival (P < 0.001), immunotherapy response (anti-PD1/PD-L1 cohorts: P = 0.0099–0.018), and drug sensitivity (A443654 IC50 = 0.12 μM vs. AICAR = 8.3 μM). Mutational profiling identified TP53 and MUC16 as high-risk biomarkers. These findings establish DRGscore as a robust prognostic tool integrating disulfidptosis biology and immune contexture, enabling risk-stratified therapeutic strategies for HNSCC.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02344-2Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)Disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs)Prognostic modelImmunotherapy responseDrug sensitivity
spellingShingle Yajun Tong
Site Bai
Ludi Ou
Qiang Zhou
Songlian Liu
Leilan Yin
Kewei Tang
Ling Long
Qinghua Yin
Gene expression profiling and pathway analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: focus on disulfidptosis
Discover Oncology
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)
Disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs)
Prognostic model
Immunotherapy response
Drug sensitivity
title Gene expression profiling and pathway analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: focus on disulfidptosis
title_full Gene expression profiling and pathway analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: focus on disulfidptosis
title_fullStr Gene expression profiling and pathway analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: focus on disulfidptosis
title_full_unstemmed Gene expression profiling and pathway analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: focus on disulfidptosis
title_short Gene expression profiling and pathway analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: focus on disulfidptosis
title_sort gene expression profiling and pathway analysis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma focus on disulfidptosis
topic Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)
Disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs)
Prognostic model
Immunotherapy response
Drug sensitivity
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-02344-2
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