Identification of a unique stress response state of T cells-related gene signature in patients with gastric cancer

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC), the third most lethal cancer worldwide, is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, leaving limited therapeutic options. Given the diverse outcomes among GC patients with similar AJCC/UICC-TNM characteristics, there is a pressing need for more reliable prognostic tools. Recent advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy have underscored this necessity. In this context, our study focused on a novel stress response state of T cells, termed T_STR, identified across multiple cancers, which is associated with resistance to immunotherapy. We aimed to develop a predictive gene signature for the T_STR phenotype within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of GC patients. By categorizing GC patients into high and low T_STR groups based on the infiltration states of TME T_STR cells, we observed significant differences in clinical prognosis and characteristics between the groups. Through a multi-step bioinformatics approach, we established an eight-gene signature based on genes differentially expressed between these groups. We conducted functional validations for the signature gene PDGFRL in GC cells. This gene signature effectively stratifies GC patients into high and low-risk categories, demonstrating robustness in predicting clinical outcomes. Furthermore, these risk groups exhibited distinct immune profiles, somatic mutations, and drug susceptibilities, highlighting the potential of our gene signature to enhance personalized treatment strategies in clinical practice.