The Relationship of PRAME Expression with Clinicopathologic Parameters and Immunologic Markers in Melanomas: In Silico Analysis

Abstract

PRAME is a cancer testis antigen whose expression is limited in normal tissues but is increased in cancers. Although there are studies revealing its oncogenic and immunogenic role, the relationship between PRAME expression and immunity in melanomas is not very clear. We aimed to reveal the relationship between PRAME expression and clinicopathologic parameters, immunologic markers, survival in melanomas. PRAME alteration data in TCGA SKCM data set was obtained from cBioPortal. Analyzes regarding clinicopathologic parameters were performed through cBioPortal and UALCAN, survival-related analyzes were performed through cBioPortal, GEPIA2. The correlation analyzes between PRAME expression and immune cell infiltration, immunity-related genes were performed in TIMER2.0, TISIDB, GEPIA2. PRAME protein-protein interaction network was constructed in STRING. The correlated genes with PRAME were listed in LinkedOmics, gene set enrichment and pathway analyses were performed through LinkInterpreter. In cases with low PRAME expression, there was a higher frequency of metastasis and p53 mutation, a more advanced tumor stage and a lower nodal stage. Strong relationship between PRAME expression and immune cell infiltration. A negative correlation was detected between expression of PRAME and many immunomodulatory genes (P<0.05). Positively correlated genes with PRAME expression were involved in metabolic pathways; negatively correlated genes were involved in pathways related to cell differentiation, immunologic processes. No significant relationship was found between PRAME expression and survival (P>0.05). Our findings reveal a strong interaction between PRAME expression and tumorigenicity, the immune system and shed light on further clinical studies including PRAME-targeted studies.