EMT-related gene expression is positively correlated with immunity and may be derived from stromal cells in osteosarcoma

Background Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in children and young adults. Recent studies have shown a correlation between epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene expression and immunity in human cancers. Here, we investigated the relationship among EMT, immune activit...

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Main Authors: Yin-xiao Peng, Bin Yu, Hui Qin, Li Xue, Yi-jian Liang, Zheng-xue Quan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2020-02-01
Series:PeerJ
Subjects:
Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/8489.pdf
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author Yin-xiao Peng
Bin Yu
Hui Qin
Li Xue
Yi-jian Liang
Zheng-xue Quan
author_facet Yin-xiao Peng
Bin Yu
Hui Qin
Li Xue
Yi-jian Liang
Zheng-xue Quan
author_sort Yin-xiao Peng
collection DOAJ
description Background Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in children and young adults. Recent studies have shown a correlation between epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene expression and immunity in human cancers. Here, we investigated the relationship among EMT, immune activity, stromal activity and tumor purity in osteosarcoma. Methods We defined EMT gene signatures and evaluated immune activity and stromal activity based on the gene expression and clinical data from three independent microarray datasets. These factors were evaluated by single sample Gene Set Enrichment Analyses and the ESTIMATE tool. Finally, we analyzed the key source of EMT gene expression in osteosarcoma using microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus and human samples that we collected. Results EMT-related gene expression was positively correlated with immune and stromal activity in osteosarcoma. Tumor purity was negatively correlated with EMT, immune activity and stromal cells. We further demonstrated that high EMT gene expression could significantly predict poor overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in osteosarcoma patients, while high immune activity cannot. However, combining these factors could have further prognostic value for osteosarcoma patients in terms of OS and RFS. Finally, we found that stromal cells may serve as a key source of EMT gene expression in osteosarcoma. Conclusion The results of this study reveal that the expression of EMT genes and immunity are positively correlated, but these signatures convey disparate prognostic information. Furthermore, the results indicate that EMT-related gene expression may be derived from stromal rather than epithelial cancer cells.
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spelling doaj.art-a22df27c64bc42ceb1e4c2b637a7b1552023-12-02T23:31:55ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592020-02-018e848910.7717/peerj.8489EMT-related gene expression is positively correlated with immunity and may be derived from stromal cells in osteosarcomaYin-xiao Peng0Bin Yu1Hui Qin2Li Xue3Yi-jian Liang4Zheng-xue Quan5Department of Orthopedics, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, Chongqing, ChinaBackground Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in children and young adults. Recent studies have shown a correlation between epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene expression and immunity in human cancers. Here, we investigated the relationship among EMT, immune activity, stromal activity and tumor purity in osteosarcoma. Methods We defined EMT gene signatures and evaluated immune activity and stromal activity based on the gene expression and clinical data from three independent microarray datasets. These factors were evaluated by single sample Gene Set Enrichment Analyses and the ESTIMATE tool. Finally, we analyzed the key source of EMT gene expression in osteosarcoma using microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus and human samples that we collected. Results EMT-related gene expression was positively correlated with immune and stromal activity in osteosarcoma. Tumor purity was negatively correlated with EMT, immune activity and stromal cells. We further demonstrated that high EMT gene expression could significantly predict poor overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in osteosarcoma patients, while high immune activity cannot. However, combining these factors could have further prognostic value for osteosarcoma patients in terms of OS and RFS. Finally, we found that stromal cells may serve as a key source of EMT gene expression in osteosarcoma. Conclusion The results of this study reveal that the expression of EMT genes and immunity are positively correlated, but these signatures convey disparate prognostic information. Furthermore, the results indicate that EMT-related gene expression may be derived from stromal rather than epithelial cancer cells.https://peerj.com/articles/8489.pdfOsteosarcomaEMTImmunityStromaTumor purity
spellingShingle Yin-xiao Peng
Bin Yu
Hui Qin
Li Xue
Yi-jian Liang
Zheng-xue Quan
EMT-related gene expression is positively correlated with immunity and may be derived from stromal cells in osteosarcoma
PeerJ
Osteosarcoma
EMT
Immunity
Stroma
Tumor purity
title EMT-related gene expression is positively correlated with immunity and may be derived from stromal cells in osteosarcoma
title_full EMT-related gene expression is positively correlated with immunity and may be derived from stromal cells in osteosarcoma
title_fullStr EMT-related gene expression is positively correlated with immunity and may be derived from stromal cells in osteosarcoma
title_full_unstemmed EMT-related gene expression is positively correlated with immunity and may be derived from stromal cells in osteosarcoma
title_short EMT-related gene expression is positively correlated with immunity and may be derived from stromal cells in osteosarcoma
title_sort emt related gene expression is positively correlated with immunity and may be derived from stromal cells in osteosarcoma
topic Osteosarcoma
EMT
Immunity
Stroma
Tumor purity
url https://peerj.com/articles/8489.pdf
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