Apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor expression and its validation as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma

BackgroundOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is characterized by a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the expression of apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor (AATF) in OSCC, examine its correlation with clinicopathological features, assess its progno...

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Main Authors: Ainiwaerjiang Abudourousuli, Zumulaiti Aierken, Hasiyati Mamuti, Tuxunayi Yimamu, Chengli Da
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1542730/full
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author Ainiwaerjiang Abudourousuli
Zumulaiti Aierken
Hasiyati Mamuti
Tuxunayi Yimamu
Chengli Da
author_facet Ainiwaerjiang Abudourousuli
Zumulaiti Aierken
Hasiyati Mamuti
Tuxunayi Yimamu
Chengli Da
author_sort Ainiwaerjiang Abudourousuli
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is characterized by a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the expression of apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor (AATF) in OSCC, examine its correlation with clinicopathological features, assess its prognostic implications, and explore its potential role in OSCC progression.MethodsExpression profiles and clinical data of OSCC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Immunohistochemical analysis on tissue microarrays was performed to assess AATF expression in OSCC. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted to identify potential signaling pathways and biological functions associated with AATF. Logistic regression analyses were employed to evaluate the relationship between AATF expression and clinicopathological features. Immune cell infiltration was assessed using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). The prognostic value of AATF was determined using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. A nomogram was developed to predict overall survival (OS) rates at one, three-, and five years post-cancer diagnosis. Validation of AATF expression was performed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR)ResultsAATF was significantly overexpressed in OSCC, and high AATF expression correlated with adverse clinicopathological features, including histologic grade and lymph node metastasis. Functional enrichment analysis revealed several enriched pathways, including epidermis development, immunoglobulin complex, antigen binding and IL-17 signaling pathway. Notably, AATF overexpression was negatively correlated with the infiltration levels of mast cells, interdigitating dendritic cells and Th 17 cells. High AATF expression significantly predicted poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Multivariate Cox analysis confirmed AATF as an independent negative prognostic marker of OS. Validation via qRT-PCR confirmed the overexpression of AATF in OSCC tissues.ConclusionElevated expression of AATF in OSCC correlates with adverse clinicopathological features and negatively impacts immune cell infiltration. High AATF levels serve as an independent marker of poor OS and DSS. These findings support AATF as a valuable prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in OSCC, warranting further investigation.
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spelling doaj-art-b59e3c753b864520acbdeaaccf1029092025-01-22T05:19:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-01-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15427301542730Apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor expression and its validation as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinomaAiniwaerjiang Abudourousuli0Zumulaiti Aierken1Hasiyati Mamuti2Tuxunayi Yimamu3Chengli Da4Department of Pathology, The First People`s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, ChinaDepartment of Stomatology, The First People`s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, The First People`s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, The First People`s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, ChinaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First People`s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, ChinaBackgroundOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is characterized by a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the expression of apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor (AATF) in OSCC, examine its correlation with clinicopathological features, assess its prognostic implications, and explore its potential role in OSCC progression.MethodsExpression profiles and clinical data of OSCC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Immunohistochemical analysis on tissue microarrays was performed to assess AATF expression in OSCC. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted to identify potential signaling pathways and biological functions associated with AATF. Logistic regression analyses were employed to evaluate the relationship between AATF expression and clinicopathological features. Immune cell infiltration was assessed using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). The prognostic value of AATF was determined using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. A nomogram was developed to predict overall survival (OS) rates at one, three-, and five years post-cancer diagnosis. Validation of AATF expression was performed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR)ResultsAATF was significantly overexpressed in OSCC, and high AATF expression correlated with adverse clinicopathological features, including histologic grade and lymph node metastasis. Functional enrichment analysis revealed several enriched pathways, including epidermis development, immunoglobulin complex, antigen binding and IL-17 signaling pathway. Notably, AATF overexpression was negatively correlated with the infiltration levels of mast cells, interdigitating dendritic cells and Th 17 cells. High AATF expression significantly predicted poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Multivariate Cox analysis confirmed AATF as an independent negative prognostic marker of OS. Validation via qRT-PCR confirmed the overexpression of AATF in OSCC tissues.ConclusionElevated expression of AATF in OSCC correlates with adverse clinicopathological features and negatively impacts immune cell infiltration. High AATF levels serve as an independent marker of poor OS and DSS. These findings support AATF as a valuable prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in OSCC, warranting further investigation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1542730/fullapoptosis antagonizing transcription factororal squamous cell carcinomaprognostic biomarkerimmune microenvironmentexpression profile
spellingShingle Ainiwaerjiang Abudourousuli
Zumulaiti Aierken
Hasiyati Mamuti
Tuxunayi Yimamu
Chengli Da
Apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor expression and its validation as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Frontiers in Oncology
apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor
oral squamous cell carcinoma
prognostic biomarker
immune microenvironment
expression profile
title Apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor expression and its validation as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma
title_full Apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor expression and its validation as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma
title_fullStr Apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor expression and its validation as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor expression and its validation as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma
title_short Apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor expression and its validation as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma
title_sort apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor expression and its validation as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma
topic apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor
oral squamous cell carcinoma
prognostic biomarker
immune microenvironment
expression profile
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1542730/full
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