FOXP family DNA methylation correlates with immune infiltration and prognostic value in NSCLC

Methylation modification is a poor prognostic factor in non-small cell lung Cancer and regulates the tumor microenvironment: mRNA molecular structure and function

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common and deadly type of lung cancer, and its poor prognosis is closely related to the complex interactions of the tumor microenvironment. Through methylation analysis of tumor tissue samples from NSCLC patients, combined with high-throughput sequencing technology, the methylation status and structural characteristics of mRNA molecules were studied. Bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the regulatory effects of methylation modification on mRNA expression and genes associated with the tumor microenvironment. The results showed that the methylation level of specific mRNA was significantly correlated with the expression changes of tumor microenvironment-related factors. In addition, methylation modification affected mRNA stability and translation efficiency, further altering the metabolic activity and immune escape capacity of tumor cells. The results showed that mRNA with high methylation level was significantly associated with poor prognosis. Methylation modification profoundly affects the tumor microenvironment and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer by altering the structure and function of mRNA molecules.

FOXP3: A Player of Immunogenetic Architecture in Lung Cancer

The transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) is considered to be a prominent component of the immune system expressed in regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs are immunosuppressive cells that regulate immune homeostasis and self-tolerance. FOXP3 was originally thought to be a Tregs-specific molecule, but recent studies have pinpointed that FOXP3 is expressed in a diversity of benign tumors and carcinomas. The vast majority of the data have shown that FOXP3 is correlated with an unfavorable prognosis, although there are some reports indicating the opposite function of this molecule. Here, we review recent progress in understanding the FOXP3 role in the immunogenetic architecture of lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer-related death. We discuss the prognostic significance of tumor FOXP3 expression, tumor-infiltrating FOXP3-lymphocytes, tumor FOXP3 in tumor microenvironments and the potential of FOXP3-targeted therapy.