A five-gene prognosis model based on lysine β-hydroxybutyrylation site genes to predict the survival and therapy response in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is one of the most malignancy diseases. Lysine β-hydroxybutyrylation (Kbhb) has been reported to involve various metabolism and cancer progression.

Methods: Data from online databases (TCGA and GEO) were retrieved for the selection of differential expressed Kbhb site genes (DTRGs). Univariate cox and LASSO analysis were performed to identify the prognostic DTRGs. Based on the optimal DTRGs, a prognostic risk score model was established. Kaplan-Meier and Receiver operator characteristic analysis were conducted to evaluate the predicting ability of the prognosis model. Generated with clinical data, independent analysis and nomogram model were performed. Finally, the differences of survival, immune cell levels, immunotherapy response, drug sensitivity between high- and low-risk groups were explored.

Results: A total of 63 DTRGs were identified in PAAD, and these genes were related to cell division and apoptosis biological functions. Through univariate cox regression and LASSO analysis, 30 DTRGs were selected to be related to prognosis and five (, , , , and ) were identified as the optimal DTRGs in PAAD. Based on the five optimal DTRGs, a prognostic risk score model was constructed, with promising predictive ability in PAAD survival (AUC >0.70). High-risk group showed lower survival rate (P < 0.05). Moreover, based on the risk score, a nomogram model was also established, which possessed perfect stability. Finally, lower risk score was related to higher immune cell levels, indicating an immune activation in low-risk status, which maybe the reason for the better survival in low-risk group. Furthermore, the immunotherapy response and drug sensitivity were all higher than that in low-risk groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: A five-gene prognosis risk model which exhibit promising predictive ability in survival is constructed for patients with PAAD.