Mitochondria-related genes as prognostic signature of endometrial cancer and the effect of MACC1 on tumor cells

Abstract

Mitochondria are essential organelles involved in cell metabolism and are closely linked to various metabolic disorders. In this study, we aimed to develop a prognostic model for endometrial cancer (EC) patients based on mitochondria-related genes (MRGs), and to investigate the role of MACC1 in EC. As shown in the graphic summary, we retrieved gene expression and clinical data from open-access databases. To construct a predictive signature, we applied the Lasso Cox regression algorithm to MRGs. The predictive performance, immune features, and anti-tumor response of the mitochondrial signature were evaluated through multiple algorithms. Additionally, expression levels of key genes were validated using quantitative Real-Time PCR and Western Blot. A total of 2030 MRGs were retrieved, and 267 were found to be prognostically relevant. Eight MRGs—MACC1, CMPK2, NDUFAF6, DUSP18, TOMM40L, MT-TP, SAMM50, and MAIP1—were identified to construct a prognostic signature for EC. The MRG signature demonstrated significant associations with drug sensitivity, immune therapy, and immune cell infiltration. Based on comprehensive bioinformatic analysis, MACC1 was identified as the most promising MRG candidate in EC. Systematic experimental validation, including both in vitro and in vivo approaches, demonstrated that MACC1 down-regulation significantly suppressed EC progression, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.