<i>BTLA</i> promoter hypomethylation correlates with enhanced immune cell infiltration, favorable prognosis, and immunotherapy response in melanoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)-based immunotherapy has significantly improved survival in advanced melanoma. However, many patients exhibit resistance to these therapies. This study examines the impact of BTLA promoter methylation on its expression, immune cell infiltration, and clinical outcomes, evaluating its potential as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for immunotherapy response.

Methods

We analyzed methylation and gene expression data from public datasets (The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO)) and an in-house cohort of melanoma patients treated with ICB therapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. We developed a quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) assay to measure methylation levels of the

SUBMITTER: Yang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11907004 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature