Aim: To build a valid prognostic model based on immune-related genes for lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). Materials & methods: Differential expression of immune-related genes between LUSC and normal specimens from TCGA dataset and underlying molecular mechanisms were systematically analyzed. Constructing and validating the high-risk and low-risk groups for LUSC survival. Results: The immune-related gene-based prognostic index (IRGPI) could predict the overall survival in patients with different clinicopathological characteristics. Functional enrichment analysis of differential expression of immune-related gene signature indicated distinctive molecular pathways between high-risk and low-risk groups. Conclusion: Analysis of IRGs in LUSC enable us to stratify patients into distinct risk groups, which may help to screen LUSC patients at risk and decision making on follow-up therapeutic intervention.
Keywords: immune-related genes; lung squamous cell carcinoma; survival.