Uncovering the relationship between YTHDF1 related to immune cells and prognosis and diagnosis in lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Abstract Background As a regulator of m6A modification, YTHDF1 is involved in regulating the pathological mechanism of cancer. However, the molecular characteristics and roles of YTHDF1 in (LUAD) remain to be further elucidated. The purpose of this study was to identify potential molecular characteristics of YTHDF1 through bioinformatics analysis, hoping to lay a theoretical foundation for LUAD management. Methods All information was downloaded from public databases. Then, the expression of YTHDF1 in LUAD was analyzed. The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was built to explore the molecular interactions. Subsequently, LUAD were divided into two groups on account of the median YTHDF1 expression. The differences in survival and immune cell infiltration between the two groups were analyzed. Genes associated with YTHDF1 were identified based on the WGCNA. Results YTHDF1 was up-regulated in tumor tissues and may be a new diagnostic biomarker of LUAD. In ceRNA network, YTHDF1, 7 miRNAs and 17 lncRNAs were included. Increased YTHDF1 expression was significantly connected with poor prognosis of LUAD. The expression level of YTHDF1 was also negatively correlated with the infiltration of most immune cells. Moreover, an increase in YTHDF1 copy number can lead to a decrease in the level of CD4 + T cell infiltration. The calibration curves indicated that nomogram constructed by YTHDF1 and clinical parameters showed higher accuracy in overall survival prediction at 1 and 2 years. Conclusion High expression of YTHDF1 was associated with poor prognosis and immune dysregulation in LUAD. The study of the molecular characteristics of YTHDF1 in LUAD can be helpful for disease management.