Affiliation:
1. Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University Suzhou Jiangsu China
Abstract
AbstractCervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC), one of the most common malignancies in women, imposes a significant burden on women's health worldwide. Despite extensive research, the molecular and pathogenic mechanisms of cervical squamous cell carcinoma and CESC remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the immune‐related genes, immune microenvironment infiltration, and prognosis of CESC, providing a theoretical basis for guiding clinical treatment. Initially, by mining four gene sets and immune‐related gene sets from public databases, 14 immune‐related genes associated with CESC were identified. Through univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses, as well as lasso regression analysis, four CESC‐independent prognostic genes were identified, and a prognostic model was constructed, dividing them into high and low‐risk groups. The correlation between these genes and immune cells and immune functions were explored through ssGSEA enrichment analysis, revealing a close association between the high‐risk group and processes such as angiogenesis and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, using public databases and qRT‐PCR experiments, significant differences in CXCL8 expression between normal cervical cells and cervical cancer cells were discovered. Subsequently, a CXCL8 knockdown plasmid was constructed, and the efficiency of CXCL8 knockdown was validated in two CESC cell lines, MEG‐01 and HCE‐1. Through CCK‐8, scratch, and Transwell assays, it was confirmed that CXCL8 knockdown could inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of CESC cells. Targeting CXCL8 holds promise for personalized therapy for CESC, providing a strong theoretical basis for achieving clinical translation.