Investigating the Clinico-Molecular and Immunological Evolution of Lung Adenocarcinoma Using Pseudotime Analysis

Frontiers in Oncology

Hyunjong Lee¹  Hongyoon Choi³ 

[1] Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea;Department of Nuclear Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea;Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea;

关键词: lung adenocarcinoma;    stage;    glucose metabolism;    tumor immune microenvironment;    pseudotime analysis;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fonc.2022.828505

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionAs the molecular features of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have been evaluated as a cross-sectional study, the course of tumor characteristics has not been modeled. The temporal evolution of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), as well as the clinico-molecular features of LUAD, could provide a precise strategy for immunotherapy and surrogate biomarkers for the course of LUAD.MethodsA pseudotime trajectory was constructed in patients with LUAD from the Cancer Genome Atlas and non-small cell lung cancer radiogenomics datasets. Correlation analyses were performed between clinical features and pseudotime. Genes associated with pseudotime were selected, and gene ontology analysis was performed. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography images of subjects were collected, and imaging parameters, including standardized uptake value (SUV), were obtained. Correlation analyses were performed between imaging parameters and pseudotime. Correlation analyses were performed between the enrichment scores of various immune cell types and pseudotime. In addition, correlation analyses were performed between the expression of PD-L1, tumor mutation burden, and pseudotime.ResultsPseudotime trajectories of LUAD corresponded to clinical stages. Molecular profiles related to cell division and natural killer cell activity were changed along the pseudotime. The maximal SUV of LUAD tumors showed a positive correlation with pseudotime. Type 1 helper T (Th1) cells showed a positive correlation, whereas M2 macrophages showed a negative correlation with pseudotime. PD-L1 expression showed a negative correlation, whereas tumor mutation burden showed a positive correlation with pseudotime.ConclusionThe estimated pseudotime associated with the stage suggested that it could reflect the clinico-molecular evolution of LUAD. Specific immune cell types in the TIME as well as cell division and glucose metabolism were dynamically changed according to the progression of the pseudotime. As a molecular progression of LUAD, different cellular targets should be considered for immunotherapy.

【 授权许可】

Unknown