Integrative Analysis of a Pyroptosis-Related Signature of Clinical and Biological Value in Multiple Myeloma

Abstract

PurposePyroptosis is an inflammation-based programmed cell death that holds great potential as a novel cancer therapeutic target in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, thus far, the function of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in MM and their prognostic relevance remains undetermined.MethodsThe model was established by the LASSO analysis, based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dabatase, and its efficacy was verified using two external datasets. The model’s predictive ability was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier survival and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Finally, a nomogram was established for clinical application. We also confirmed the validity of our model using specimens and in vitro experiments.ResultsWe established an 11-PRG signature profile, and verified its efficacy using two validation cohorts (VCs). In both cohorts, patients were separated into two subpopulations, according to their median risk scores (RS). Our analysis revealed that high-risk (HR) patients experienced considerably lower overall survival (OS), compared to the low-risk (LR) patients. Using functional enrichment and immune infiltration analyses, we demonstrated that the immunologic status was strongly related to RS. Furthermore, using a pyroptosis inhibitor Q-VD-OPh, we revealed that MM cell proliferation and progression was drastically suppressed and the doxorubicin (DOX)-induced apoptosis was reversed.ConclusionBased on our analysis, pyroptosis not only serves as a measure of MM treatment efficiency and patient prognosis, but is also a possible target for anti-MM therapy.