Comprehensive Analysis of Prognostic Value and Immune Infiltration of NLRC4 and CASP1 in Colorectal Cancer

Prognostic significance of pyroptosis-associated molecules in endometrial cancer: a comprehensive immunohistochemical analysis

Introduction

Endometrial cancer, the most prevalent malignancy of the female genital tract, has a concerningly poor prognosis when diagnosed in advanced stages, with limited targeted therapy options available for advanced or recurrent cases. Pyroptosis, a type of nonapoptotic cell death mediated by caspase-1, has shown potential antitumor effects in various tumors. NLRP3, a cytosolic sensor, initiates the canonical pyroptotic pathway, leading to caspase-1 activation, subsequent gasdermin D cleavage, and plasma membrane pore formation. The ESCRT-III machinery, particularly CHMP4B, acts as a key inhibitor of pyroptosis by repairing gasdermin D-induced membrane damage. The current study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathologic relevance of key pyroptosis-associated molecules in endometrial cancer.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression of four pyroptosis-associated molecules (NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1 p20, cleaved gasdermin D, and CHMP4B) in 351 patients with endometrial cancer, and their associations with clinical, pathological, and survival outcomes were analyzed.

Results

High NLRP3 expression was significantly associated with age ≤ 50 years and premenopause. Increased cleaved caspase-1 p20 expression was associated with nonendometrioid carcinoma, Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) grade 3, and the p53 mutant pattern and was independently associated with poor recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival. Increased cleaved gasdermin D expression was associated with a body mass index of >25 kg/m², FIGO grades 1-2, early FIGO stage (I-II), and absence of lymph node metastasis. High CHMP4B expression was associated with nonendometrioid carcinoma and poor RFS. Cleaved gasdermin D-high/CHMP4B-low endometrial cancer was associated with endometrioid carcinoma, FIGO grades 1-2 and favorable RFS.

Discussion

Our study identified cleaved caspase-1 p20 as an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in endometrial cancer. CHMP4B, an inhibitor of pyroptosis, was associated with an unfavorable RFS, whereas high cleaved gasdermin D/low CHMP4B expression was associated with a favorable RFS. These findings underscore the prognostic significance of pyroptosis and the potential interaction between cleaved gasdermin D and CHMP4B in endometrial cancer.

Recent updates on pyroptosis in tumors of the digestive tract

Pyroptosis is an inflammasome-dependent form of programmed cell death that is mediated by caspases-1, -4, -5, and -11, and the gasdermin protein family. It is characterized by the rupture of cell membrane and the subsequent release of cell contents and interleukins, leading to inflammatory reaction and activation of the immune system. Recent studies have suggested that pyroptosis plays a role in the development of gastrointestinal tumors, impeding tumor generation and progression as well as providing a favorable microenvironment for tumor growth. In this review we outlined the current knowledge regarding the implications of pyroptosis in gastrointestinal cancers.

Pan-cancer analysis: SPAG5 is an immunological and prognostic biomarker for multiple cancers

Sperm-associated antigen 5 (SPAG5) is a mitotic spindle protein that regulates the separation of sister chromatids into daughter cells. Recent studies have discovered its overexpression in various cancers, suggesting its oncogenic characteristics and functions. However, a comprehensive analysis of SPAG5 regarding its diagnostic, prognostic, and immune-related effects across different cancer types is lacking. In this study, we employed bioinformatics methods and integrated multiple public databases to explore the potential oncogenic role of SPAG5. We analyzed its expression, prognosis, related chemicals, enriched pathways, immune infiltration, and its impact on different tumor genetic alterations. The results revealed that SPAG5 is highly expressed in most cancers and significantly correlates with poor patient prognosis. Additionally, SPAG5 expression showed potential for early cancer diagnosis in 15 different cancer types. In terms of tumor immunity, high expression of SPAG5 was associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and immune therapy efficacy indicators. SPAG5 expression exhibited a negative correlation with most immune cell infiltrates but demonstrated a significant positive correlation with Th2 cells and MDSC cells. Multicolor fluorescence immunohistochemistry demonstrated that SPAG5 activates immune cell populations within tumors, indicating its significant role in the tumor microenvironment. Enrichment analysis indicated that SPAG5-related genes are mainly involved in cell cycle, cellular senescence, P53 signaling pathway, and FoxO signaling pathway. Furthermore, we confirmed the high expression of SPAG5 in cancer cells and observed that its knockdown upregulated the expression of the p53 protein. In conclusion, SPAG5 holds value as a diagnostic, prognostic, and immune biomarker in various cancers and may provide a novel target for tumor immunotherapy.

Inflammasomes as regulators of non-infectious disease

Inflammasomes are cytoplasmic organelles that stimulate inflammation upon cellular detection of infectious or non-infectious stress. While much foundational work has focused on the infection-associated aspects of inflammasome activities, recent studies have highlighted the role of inflammasomes in non-infectious cellular and organismal functions. Herein, we discuss the evolution of inflammasome components and highlight characteristics that permit inflammasome regulation of physiologic processes. We focus on emerging data that highlight the importance of inflammasome proteins in the regulation of reproduction, development, and malignancy. A framework is proposed to contextualize these findings.