Prediction of prognostic and immune therapy response in lung adenocarcinoma based on MHC-I-related genes.

Objectives: The study investigated the prognostic and immune predictive potential of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Materials and methods: With The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-LUAD and Gene Expression Omnibus datasets (GSE26939, GSE72094) as the training and validation sets, respectively, we used Cox regression analysis to construct a prognostic model, and verified independence of riskscore. The predictive capacity of the model was assessed in both sets using the receiver operating characteristic curve and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Immune analysis was performed by using ssGSEA. Additionally, immune checkpoint blockade therapy was assessed by using immunophenoscore, Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion score. Based on the cMAP database, effective small molecule compounds were predicted.

Results: A prognostic model was established based on 8 MHC-I-related genes, and the predictive capacity of the model was accurate. Immune analysis results revealed that patients classified as high-risk had lower levels of immune cell infiltration and impaired immune function. The low-risk group possessed a better response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Theobromine and pravastatin were identified as having great potential in improving the prognosis of LUAD.

Conclusion: Overall, the study revealed MHC-I-related molecular prognostic biomarkers as robust indicators for LUAD prognosis and immune therapy response.