Abstract
PURPOSE: Pyroptosis has vital roles in tumorigenesis and cancer development; however, its relationship with cervical squamous cell cancer (CSCC) remains unexplored. In this study, we aimed to develop a CSCC prediction signature related to pyroptosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consensus clustering analysis was conducted to detect pyroptosis-related subclusters for CSCC. Next, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between subclusters were identified. Univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and stepwise multivariate Cox regression analyses were applied to establish a prognostic model and a nomogram drawn. Additionally, functional enrichment analysis, tumor mutation burden, and immune characteristics associated with this signature were investigated. RESULTS: We constructed a seven-gene signature that functions as an independent predictor of prognosis in CSCC using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Patients with CSCC were divided into two groups based on median risk score, and patients in the low-risk group had significantly longer survival time than those in the high-risk group. Our findings were validated using Gene Expression Omnibus cohort data. We also established a nomogram, to expand the clinical applicability of our findings. The seven gene signature was associated with various molecular pathways, tumor mutation status, and immune microenvironment. CONCLUSION: The pyroptosis-related risk signature consisting of seven genes developed here represents a potential robust biomarker for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy response in patients with CSCC.