Ferroptosis-Related Genes Are Associated with Radioresistance and Immune Suppression in Head and Neck Cancer.

{"sci_version": "1.2", "schema": "https://corpus.bntrg.co.uk/sci/1.0/sci.schema.json", "id": "pmid:38478802", "kind": "science-record", "revision": 5, "content_hash": "sha256:e2c8378ccd0f52c7646013ad1a436448168fc88d3bdd26afed8163ed76e068ca", "created_at": "2026-11-01T19:20:25Z", "updated_at": "2026-11-01T22:53:52Z", "generator": {"name": "corpus-assay-engine", "run_id": "reading-sci-2026-11-01"}, "paper": {"state": "complete", "title": "Ferroptosis-Related Genes Are Associated with Radioresistance and Immune Suppression in Head and Neck Cancer.", "doi": "10.1089/gtmb.2023.0193", "pmid": "38478802", "authors": ["Ping Huang", "Xuejian Ning", "Min Kang", "RenSheng Wang"], "journal": "Genetic testing and molecular biomarkers", "year": 2024, "abstract": "Background: Ferroptosis is associated with tumor development; however, its contribution to radioresistant head and neck cancer (HNC) remains unclear. In this study, we used bioinformatics analysis and in vitro testing to explore ferroptosis-related genes associated with HNCs radiosensitivity. Materials and Methods: GSE9714, GSE90761, and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets were searched to identify ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes between radioresistant and radiosensitive HNCs or radiation-treated and nonradiation-treated HNCs. A protein-protein interaction analysis on identified hub genes was then performed. Receiver operating characteristic curves and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to assess the diagnostic and prognostic potential of the hub genes. Cell counting kit-8, transwell assay, and flow cytometry were applied to examine the role of hub gene collagen type IV, alpha1 chain (COL4A1) on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of TU686 cells. Results: Hub genes MMP10, MMP1, COL4A1, IFI27, and INHBA showed diagnostic potential for HNC and were negatively correlated with overall survival and disease-free survival in the TCGA dataset. Also, IL-1B, IFI27, INHBA, and COL4A1 mRNA levels were significantly increased in TCGA patients with advanced clinical stages or receiving radiotherapy, whereas COL4A1, MMP10, and INHBA expressions were negatively correlated with immune infiltration. Furthermore, the knockdown of COL4A1 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting apoptosis in TU686 cells. Conclusion: Ferroptosis-related hub genes, such as COL4A1, are potential diagnostic and prognostic indicators as well as therapeutic targets for HNC.", "claims": [{"id": "claim-method", "statement": "DEGs were identified using the limma package (Ritchie et al., 2015). To assess the diagnostic value of hub genes, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated using the pROC package (Tang et al., 2017). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of hub genes.", "kind": "methodological", "target": null, "evidence": [{"asset": "source:pmid:38478802", "locator": "sections[5] \"Identification of ferroptosis-related DEGs\" paragraph 2", "quote": "DEGs were identified using the limma package (Ritchie et al., 2015)."}, {"asset": "source:pmid:38478802", "locator": "sections[9] \"Receiver operating characteristic curve and survival analysis\" paragraph 2", "quote": "To assess the diagnostic value of hub genes, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated using the pROC package (Tang et al., 2017)."}, {"asset": "source:pmid:38478802", "locator": "sections[9] \"Receiver operating characteristic curve and survival analysis\" paragraph 2", "quote": "Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of hub genes."}], "state": "complete"}, {"id": "claim-data-access", "statement": "Data are available in a public, open-access repository. Data are available on reasonable request. All data relevant to the study are included in the article. The datasets (GEO data) and (TCGA data) for this study can be found on the following web link: GEO (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/and TCGA (https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/).", "kind": "methodological", "target": null, "evidence": [{"asset": "source:pmid:38478802", "locator": "sections[29] \"Data Availability Statement\" paragraph 2", "quote": "Data are available in a public, open-access repository. Data are available on reasonable request. All data relevant to the study are included in the article. The datasets (GEO data) and (TCGA data) for this study can be found on the following web link: GEO (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/and TCGA (https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/)."}], "state": "complete"}, {"id": "claim-target-result", "statement": "Ferroptosis-related hub genes, such as COL4A1, are potential diagnostic and prognostic indicators as well as therapeutic targets for HNC.", "kind": "qualitative", "target": null, "evidence": [{"asset": "source:pmid:38478802", "locator": "sections[0] \"Abstract\" paragraph 4", "quote": "Ferroptosis-related hub genes, such as COL4A1, are potential diagnostic and prognostic indicators as well as therapeutic targets for HNC."}], "state": "complete"}], "gaps": []}, "experiment": {"state": "complete", "objective": "Ferroptosis-related hub genes, such as COL4A1, are potential diagnostic and prognostic indicators as well as therapeutic targets for HNC.", "steps": [{"id": "read_published_estimate", "order": 1, "name": "Read the published estimate from the source", "kind": "other", "state": "complete", "blocked_on": null, "description": "The claim, method and evidence span published with the source article.", "duration_hours": null, "parameters": {}, "inputs": ["source:pmid:38478802"], "outputs": ["the published estimate and its evidence"], "instruments": [], "reagents": []}, {"id": "obtain_source_data", "order": 2, "name": "Obtain the source data from the named repository", "kind": "data-preparation", "state": "complete", "blocked_on": null, "description": "The GEO series accession resolves and its sample accessions are listed. 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