Bioinformatics analysis of the prognostic significance of VPS72 and correlations with immune infiltrates in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract Background VPS72 forms part of the EP400 and Snf2-related CBP-activator protein (SRCAP) chromatin remodeling complexes. The prognostic value of VPS72 in hepatocellular carcinoma is not known. Methods We used the ONCOMINE, UALCAN, GEPIA, STRING and TIMER databases to study the expression of VPS72 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Results We found that VPS72 overexpression was markedly correlated with both clinical stage and pathological grade in Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), and that higher mRNA expression of VPS72 was significantly related to shorter overall survival. Moreover, we observed significant differences in the hypermethylation of the VPS72 promoter in liver cancer. Furthermore, we identified significant correlations between the expression of VPS72 and the infiltration of B cells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells in LIHC. We then investigated the VPS72 protein interaction network using STRING. Conclusion VPS72 may be useful as a prognostic biomarker and immunotherapeutic target in LIHC patients.