Identification of the new molecular subtypes related to inflammation in breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is a prevalent ailment among women, and the inflammatory response plays a crucial role in the management and prediction of breast cancer (BRCA). However, the new subtypes based on inflammation in BRCA research are still undefined. The databases including The Cancer Genome Atlas and gene expression omnibus were utilized to gather clinical data and somatic mutation information for approximately 1069 BRCA patients. Through Consensus Clustering, novel subtypes linked to inflammation were identified. A comparative analysis was conducted on the prognosis, and immune cell infiltration, and somatic mutation of the new subtypes. Additionally, an investigation into drug therapy and immunotherapy was conducted to distinguish high-risk individuals from low-risk ones. The findings of this investigation proposed the categorization of BRCA into innovative subtypes predicated on the inflammatory response and 6 key genes were a meaningful approach. Specifically, the low-, medium-, and high-inflammation subtypes exhibited varying degrees of association with clinicopathological features, tumor microenvironment, and prognosis. Notably, the high-inflammation subtype was characterized by a strong correlation with immunosuppressive microenvironments and a higher frequency of somatic mutations, which was an indication of poorer health. This study revealed that a brand-new classification could throw new light on the effective prognosis. The integration of multiple key genes was a new characterization that could promote more immunotherapy strategies and contribute to predicting the efficacy of the chemotherapeutic drugs.