Development and Experimental Validation of a Novel Prognostic Signature for Gastric Cancer

Cancers (Basel). 2023 Mar 5;15(5):1610. doi: 10.3390/cancers15051610.

Abstract

Background: Gastric cancer is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the accurate recognition of prognostic molecular markers is the key to improving treatment efficacy and prognosis.

Methods: In this study, we developed a stable and robust signature through a series of processes using machine-learning approaches. This PRGS was further experimentally validated in clinical samples and a gastric cancer cell line.

Results: The PRGS is an independent risk factor for overall survival that performs reliably and has a robust utility. Notably, PRGS proteins promote cancer cell proliferation by regulating the cell cycle. Besides, the high-risk group displayed a lower tumor purity, higher immune cell infiltration, and lower oncogenic mutation than the low-PRGS group.

Conclusions: This PRGS could be a powerful and robust tool to improve clinical outcomes for individual gastric cancer patients.

Keywords: clinical outcomes; gastric cancer; machine learning; oncogenic mutation; prognostic signature; tumor microenvironment.