A comprehensive pan-cancer analysis and prediction model revealed that FAM189A2 is an immune-related gene and a prognostic biomarker for esophageal adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Abstract Background Recent research indicates that FAM189A2 plays a significant role in the development of various types of cancer. However, its aberrant expression and prognostic value in human esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) have not been thoroughly described. The study aimed to assess the prognostic value of FAM189A2 in EAC.Materials and Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases for patients with EAC, as well as 32 other types of cancer, were searched in this study to retrieve the expression profiles and clinical information. Using the R package DESeq2, we performed differential gene analysis between the high and low FAM189A2 expression groups. The enrichment analysis of the differential genes using the ClusterProfiler package was then conducted. In addition, the single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm was employed to analyze immune infiltration in the high and low FAM189A2 expression groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were conducted to construct prognostic models based on FAM189A2 expression. Finally, we analyzed the prognostic value of FAM189A2 in both EAC and pan-cancer.Results The enrichment analysis revealed a significant association between FAM189A2 and cholesterol metabolism, as well as complementary coagulation. The analysis of immune infiltration indicated a positive correlation between FAM189A2 and mast cells and CD8 T cells. Low expression of FAM189A2 was identified as an independent poor prognostic factor for overall survival (OS). Moreover, the abnormal expression of FAM189A2 was found to impact the prognosis of several cancers, including EAC.Conclusions Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, the influence of FAM189A2 on the prognosis of EAC. These results lay the foundation for future studies investigating the relationship between FAM189A2 and EAC.