ALOX5 and ALOX5AP as an mRNA metric predicts unfavorable prognosis in lower-grade glioma

Abstract

The role of leukotrienes in glioma remains less understood. In this study, we explore the prognostic implication of leukotriene biosynthesis-related genes ALOX5 and ALOX5AP in lower-grade glioma (LGG) associated molecular underpinnings. The average expression of ALOX5 and ALOX5AP is defined as the ALOX score, which was positively associated with the malignant phenotype of LGG. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis disclose that an increased expression of the ALOX score predicts an unfavorable outcome, and acts as an independent risk factor. Besides, a tumor microenvironment characterized by a high ALOX score contains more innate immune cells and an active inflammatory response than the ALOX score low group. At single-cell resolution, ALOX5 and ALOX5AP were predominantly expressed by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). The ALOX score gives a good performance in predicting immunosuppressive cell gene signature especially myeloid-derived suppressor cells and T-cell dysfunction. Together, these results provide preliminary evidence of the role of leukotriene biosynthesis genes in the glioma microenvironment and may offer a novel therapeutic target for LGG.