Construction and validation of a pyroptosis-related gene signature in hepatocellular carcinoma based on RNA sequencing.

Background: To establish a pyroptosis-related gene (PRG) signature that could be utilized to predict hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) survival and clinical features. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was utilized to identify differentially expressed PRGs. Univariate Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analyses were utilized to establish the prognostic signature. The signature was verified in the International Cancer Genome Consortium cohort (ID: LIHC-US). Based on the medium-risk score, HCC samples were classified into high- or low-risk subgroups. For signature accuracy prediction, we utilized receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and the Kaplan-Meier estimate (K-M). Molecular and immunological aspects were also reviewed using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Finally, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was utilized to verify the expression of hub genes in vitro. Results: On basis of the 33 PRGs, five PRGs ( Conclusions: The signature could precisely predict survival outcomes and reveal immune microenvironment composition, as well as strengthen the argument for more credible clinical and functional research in HCC patients.