A ferroptosis-related gene signature for overall survival prediction and immune infiltration in lung squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Ferroptosis is associated with cancer initiation and progression. However, the molecular mechanism and prognostic value of ferroptosis-related genes in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) are poorly understood. Methods: The mRNA expression profiles, methylation data, and clinical information of patients with LUSC were downloaded from TCGA and GEO database. Ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between cancerous and non-cancerous tissues, and their prognostic value was systemically investigated by bioinformatic analyses. Results: A ferroptosis-related gene signature (ALOX5, TFRC, PHKG2, FADS2, NOX1) was constructed using multivariate Cox regression analysis and represented as a risk score. Overall survival (OS) probability was significantly lower in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group (P Conclusions: A ferroptosis-related gene signature was constructed to predict OS probability in LUSC. This could facilitate novel therapeutic methods and guide individualized therapy.