Identification of several senescence-associated genes signature in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: As one of the core aging processes, cellular senescence is associated with tumorigenesis, growth, and immune modulation in cancers. Nevertheless, the prognosis of senescence-associated genes (SAGs) signature in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains to be further evaluated.

Methods: The transcriptome and corresponding clinical datasets of SAGs in patients with HNSCC were downloaded from public databases. A new prognostic SAGs signature was established with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator discussion. Patients with HNSCC were fallen into two risk groups based on each sample's risk mark and the cutoff point. The survival analysis was extended to determine the predictive accuracy of the SAGs signature. Furthermore, the evaluation of SAGs signature was made according to clinicopathological characteristics, survival state, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, and efficacy of immunotherapy.

Results: 41 SAGs were recognized and adopted to establish the forecast signature. The survival analysis indicated that patients with HNSCC in the high-senescent score group had significantly reduced overall survival compared with those in the low-senescent score group. It was certified that the risk score of SAGs signature was a separate predicting agent for HNSCC applying Cox regression analysis. According to functional analysis, some immune-associated pathways were increased in the low-senescent score group significantly. High-senescent score group was correlated with poor clinicopathological characteristics, given less the infiltration of inflammatory cells state and worse immunotherapeutic effect.

Conclusion: A new SAG signature predicting result and response to immunotherapy of HNSCC was identified. Cellular senescence may be a hidden target for HNSCC.