Exploration of the Prognostic and Immunotherapeutic Value of B and T Lymphocyte Attenuator in Skin Cutaneous Melanoma

Abstract

B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is a newly identified immune checkpoint molecular belonging to the CD28 immunoglobulin superfamily. However, the expression and clinical value of BTLA in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) has not been widely characterized. We found that BTLA levels were upregulated in metastatic melanoma compared to normal skin tissues and primary melanoma. Higher BTLA was also correlated with improved prognosis in SKCM based on several datasets. The multivariate Cox regression model revealed that BTLA was an independent survival indicator in metastatic melanoma. Tumor microenvironment analysis indicated BTLA was positively associated with the infiltrating levels of different immune cells and the activity of the anti-cancer immunity cycle. Importantly, BTLA accurately predicted the outcome of melanoma patients treated with MAGE-A3 blocker or first-line anti-PD-1. The present findings disclose that BTLA is a reliable biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapeutic response and might contribute to developing novel SKCM immunological treatment strategies.