Comprehensive Analysis of KNSTRN Immunoassays and KNSTRN-related ceRNA Network in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract Background: The role of Kinetochore-localized astrin/SPAG5-binding protein (KNSTRN) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remains not fully determined. Methods: Based on Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases, we first investigated the potential oncogenic functions of KNSTRN Using R and various computational tools in HCC. Results: Detailed results revealed that elevated expression of KNSTRN was considerably associated with bad overall survival (HR=1.48, 95%CI 1.05-2.09, P= 0.027) and progress free interval (HR=1.41, 95%CI 1.05-1.89, P= 0.021) in HCC. GO/KEGG functional enrichment analysis showed that KNSTRN is closely related to chromosome segregation, spindle, ATPase activity, tubulin binding, and cell cycle signaling pathway. TIMER databases analysis showed the correlationsbetween KNSTRN expression and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, biomarkers of immune cells and immune checkpoint expression. Moreover, KNSTRN level was significantly positively associated with immunosuppressive cell in tumor microenvironment (TME), including regulatory T cells (Tregs), myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and cancer-associated fibrocytes (CAFs). Finally, the two possible ceRNA networks in LIHC were constructed by correlation analysis, and all these ceRNA networks contained KNSTRN. Conclusion: KNSTRN can be used as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC, and is related to tumor immune infiltration and ceRNA network.