Clinical Prognostic Value of the PLOD Gene Family in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Accumulating evidence has implicated members of the procollagen-lysine, 2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase (PLOD) gene family, PLOD1, PLOD2, and PLOD3, in cancer progression and metastasis. However, their expression, prognostic value, and mechanisms underlying their roles in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have not yet been reported. We downloaded PLOD data for LUAD and normal tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). PLOD1-3 protein expression was evaluated using the Clinical Proteomics Tumor Analysis Consortium and Human Protein Atlas. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed using STRING software. The “ClusterProfiler” package was used for functional-enrichment analysis. The relationship between PLOD mRNA expression and immune infiltration was analyzed using the Tumor Immunity Assessment Resource and Tumor Immune System Interaction Database. The expression of PLODs in LUAD tissues was significantly upregulated compared with that in adjacent normal tissues. PLOD mRNA overexpression is associated with lymph node metastasis and high TNM staging. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that when the cut-off level was 6.073, the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of PLOD1 in distinguishing LUAD from adjacent controls were 84.4, 79.7, and 82.6%, respectively. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of PLOD2 in distinguishing LUAD from adjacent controls were 81.0, 98.3, and 68.0%, respectively, at a cut-off value of 4.360. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of PLOD3 in distinguishing LUAD from adjacent controls were 69.0, 86.4, and 52.0%, respectively, with a cut-off value of 5.499. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis demonstrated that LUAD patients with high PLODs had a worse prognosis than those with low PLODs. Correlation analysis showed that PLOD mRNA expression was related to immune infiltration and tumor purity. Upregulation of PLOD expression was significantly associated with poor survival and immune cell infiltration in LUAD. Our research shows that PLOD family members have potential as novel biomarkers for poor prognosis and as potential immunotherapy targets for LUAD.

Identification and validation of a glycosyltransferase gene signature as a novel prognostic model for lung adenocarcinoma

“…In our study, LUAD patients with high FUT1 expression exhibited a better prognosis. Studies have validated that C1GALT1 [ 12 ], GALNT2 [ 13 ], PYGB [ 14 , 15 ], and PLOD2 [ 16 , 17 ] are associated with a poorer prognosis in LUAD, aligning with our conclusions. Presently, there are limited studies on POMK, with only one speculating on its potential cancer-promoting effect [ 18 ], and no relevant study in LUAD.…”

Identifying the EMT-related signature to stratify prognosis and evaluate the tumor microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma

“…showed that the PLOD family members can be novel biomarkers for predicting LUAD prognosis (Meng et al, 2021). Being a member of the first membrane matrix metalloproteinases (MMPS), MMP14 has been shown to promote extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation to accelerate tumor cell migration, inflammation, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis.…”

PLOD Family: A Novel Biomarker for Prognosis and Personalized Treatment in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

“…In addition, overexpression of PLOD3 could lead to poor prognosis in tumors such as gastric cancer, colon adenocarcinoma, and glioma [62][63][64][65]. Some studies have suggested that the PLOD family and its members could regulate the immune infiltration in some tumors such as gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, and low-grade glioma [30,[66][67][68][69].…”