Identification of functional genes and immune cell infiltration analysis in liposarcoma

by Chunxiao Liu, Yanhua Wang, Qiuxia Liu, Sha Zhang

Liposarcoma (LPS) is a common soft tissue sarcoma; however, its molecular pathogenesis and immune cell infiltration remain poorly understood. This study investigated potential driver genes and pathways in LPS and characterized immune cell infiltration patterns to identify potential markers for targeted therapy. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in LPS were analyzed by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database and visualized with Cytoscape. mRNA expression of genes with high |logFC| values was verified by RT-qPCR. Immune cell subsets were quantified using CIBERSORT. GO and KEGG analysis revealed significant functional clusters and pathways, and most verified genes were consistent with the bioinformatics analysis. Survival analysis showed that high expression of TYMS, KIF20A, BUB1B, LMNB1, RRM2, ZWINT, and RACGAP1 was significantly associated with poor overall survival and poor disease-free survival (DFS). High levels of TMSB15A, TPX2, PKM2, and PTTG1 were significantly associated with poor DFS alone. CIBERSORT analysis identified a significantly higher fraction of resting mast cells (MCs) in LPS tissues compared to normal fatty tissues (P < 0.05). TOP2A, IL-6, PCNA, CDK1, JUN, MYC, CCNB1, EGFR, ACACB, and BIRC5 were identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers of LPS, providing strong evidence for hub gene studies. Immune cell infiltration analysis further suggested that resting MCs may play a potential role in LPS development, although further experimental validation is warranted. Collectively, these findings clarify the molecular basis of LPS and provide a foundation for future research into its treatment.