Immune-Related Nine-MicroRNA Signature for Predicting the Prognosis of Gastric Cancer

Recent findings have demonstrated the superiority and utility of microRNAs (miRNAs) as new biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis. In this study, to explore the prognostic value of immune-related miRNAs in gastric cancer (GC), we analyzed the miRNA-expression profiles of 389 patients with GC, using data deposited in The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Using a forward- and backward-variable selection and multivariate Cox regression analyses model, we identified a nine-miRNA signature (the ImmiRSig, consisting of miR-125b-5p, miR-99a-3p, miR-145-3p, miR-328-3p, miR-133a-5p, miR-1292-5p, miR-675-3p, miR-92b-5p, and miR-942-3p) in the training cohort that enabled the division of patients into high- and low-risk groups with significantly different survival rates. The ImmiRSig was successfully validated with an independent test cohort of 193 GC patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that the ImmiRSig would serve as an independent prognostic factor after adjusting for other clinical covariates. Pending further prospective validation, the identified ImmiRSig appears to have significant clinical importance in terms of improving outcome predictions and guiding personalized treatment for patients with GC. Finally, significant associations between the ImmiRSig and the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of chemotherapeutic agents were observed, suggesting that ImmiRSig may predict the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy.

Automated summary

Recent findings have demonstrated that a nine-miRNA signature (ImmiRSig) in gastric cancer patients can effectively stratify patients into high- and low-risk groups with significantly different survival rates. The ImmiRSig may serve as an independent prognostic factor and have significant clinical implications for guiding personalized treatment and improving outcome predictions in gastric cancer patients. Additionally, ImmiRSig may potentially predict the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy based on its associations with chemotherapeutic agents.