Identification of RAS-like oncoprotein B (RALB) as a potential prognostic and therapeutic target in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The RAS superfamily oncogenes play significant roles in various types of malignant tumors. However, little is known about the role of RAS-like oncoprotein B (RALB) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study evaluated whether RALB can be a prognostic and therapeutic target for HNSCC. A total of 504 HNSCC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were segregated into two groups: RALB-high and RALB-low. The clinical significance of RALB expression in HNSCC patients was investigated. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion assays were performed in HN-1 and HN-5 cells by silencing RALB using siRNA. Gene enrichment and immune infiltration analyses were also performed. RALB expression was elevated in HNSCC tissues compared with normal tissues and was an independent risk factor associated with poor prognosis. A nomogram including the RALB expression level was established to predict the prognosis of HNSCC patients and showed highest sensitivity and benefit in predicting the three-year survival. The inhibition of RALB expression effectively impeded the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HNSCC cells. Importantly, RALB levels were significantly correlated with T cell-mediated immune responses, especially in human papillomavirus-positive HNSCC samples. This study identified RALB as a potential prognostic and therapeutic target for HNSCC, and provided insight into the relationship between RALB and revealed an innovative strategy for HNSCC immunotherapy. AJTR Copyright © 2024.

Citation

Zi-Yuan Zhou, Lei Liu, Xiao-Meng Song. Identification of RAS-like oncoprotein B (RALB) as a potential prognostic and therapeutic target in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. American journal of translational research. 2024;16(8):3950-3963

PMID: 39262725

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