Gastric Cancer Research Uncovers Prognostic Genes Associated with Mitochondrial Nuclear Genes

New research from the Department of Oncology at the Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in Changzhou, People's Republic of China, has shed light on the role of mitochondrial-related nuclear genes (MNGs) in gastric cancer (GC). By analyzing GC-related transcriptome data from the gene expression omnibus and cancer genome atlas databases, researchers identified three prognostic genes associated with MNGs: ATP8A2, COX15, and TARS2. These genes demonstrated significant associations with immune infiltration, copy number variation (CNV), and prognostic outcomes of GC.

Key Takeaways:

• The study analyzed GC-related transcriptome data from the Gene Expression Omnibus and Cancer Genome Atlas databases to identify differentially expressed MNGs.
• A prognostic risk model was constructed through univariate Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, validated by Kaplan-Meier survival curve and receiver operating characteristic curve.
• Three prognostic genes associated with MNGs were identified: ATP8A2, COX15, and TARS2, which showed significant correlations with CNV and immune infiltration.
• The risk model integrating risk score and clinicopathological factors exhibited excellent predictive performance.
• A significant correlation was observed between prognostic genes and differential immune cells, such as T cells, B cells, and NK cells.
• Specific drugs, including BMS-754807, Gefitinib, JQ1, Lapatinib, and Sapitinib, showed significant differences in sensitivity between the high-risk group and the low-risk group.

Statistics:

• The study analyzed data from 417 GC samples.
• The prognostic risk model exhibited an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.945.
• The expression of TARS2 and COX15 was positively correlated with CNV, while ATP8A2 was unaffected.
• The risk model and nomogram, integrating risk score and clinicopathological factors, exhibited excellent predictive performance.

Sources:

• Identification and validation of prognostic genes associated with mitochondrial nuclear genes in gastric cancer. Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 2025;25(1):309.
• Springer-verlag Italia Srl, Via Decembrio, 28, Milan, 20137, Italy.
• NewsRx. New Gastric Cancer Findings from Department of Oncology Reported (Identification and validation of prognostic genes associated with mitochondrial nuclear genes in gastric cancer). Cancer Weekly. September 16, 2025; p 1658.