Research Paper Volume 13, Issue 9 pp 13239—13263

Aging-related genes are potential prognostic biomarkers for patients with gliomas

Gelei Xiao1, *, , Xiangyang Zhang2, *, , Xun Zhang1, , Yuanbing Chen1, , Zhiwei Xia3, , Hui Cao4,5, , Jun Huang1, , Quan Cheng1,6, ,

  • 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China
  • 2 Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China
  • 3 Department of Neurology, Hunan Aerospace Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
  • 4 Department of Psychiatry, The Second People’s Hospital of Hunan Province, Hunan, China
  • 5 The Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Hunan, China
  • 6 National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China
* Equal contribution

Received: November 30, 2020       Accepted: March 4, 2021       Published: May 4, 2021      

https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.203008
How to Cite

Copyright: © 2021 Xiao et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Abstract

Aging has a significant role in the proliferation and development of cancers. This study explored the expression profiles, prognostic value, and potential roles of aging-related genes in gliomas. We designed risk score and cluster models based on aging-related genes and glioma cases using LASSO Cox regression analysis, consensus clustering analysis and univariate cox regression analyses. High risk score was related to malignant clinical features and poor prognosis based on 10 datasets, 2953 cases altogether. Genetic alterations analysis revealed that high risk scores were associated with genomic aberrations of aging-related oncogenes. GSVA analysis exhibited the potential function of the aging-related genes. More immune cell infiltration was found in high-risk group cases, and glioma patients in high-risk group may be more responsive to immunotherapy. Knock-down of CTSC, an aging-related gene, can inhibit cell cycle progression, colony formation, cell proliferation and increase cell senescence in glioma cell lines in vitro. Indeed, high expression of CTSC was associated with poor prognosis in glioma cases. In conclusion, this study revealed that aging-related genes have prognostic potential for glioma patients and further identified potential mechanisms for aging-related genes in tumorigenesis and progression in gliomas.

Abbreviations

TCGA: the Cancer Genome Atlas; CGGA: the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas; CNS: central nervous system; SCNAs: somatic copy number alternations; OS: Overall Survival; PFI: Progression Free Survival; DSS: Disease Free Survival; GBM: glioblastoma; LGG: Low-grade gliomas; PCA: Principal component analysis; PD: progressive disease; PR: partial response; SD: stable disease; CR: complete response.