Identification of an Autophagy-Related Gene SERPINA1 as a Superior Biomarker Associated with the Occurrence and Distant Metastasis in Osteosarcoma

Abstract

Background: This study investigated autophagy-related genetic biomarkers to understand the occurrence and distant metastasis in osteosarcoma. Methods: Microarray or mRNA sequencing data obtained from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database was analyzed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Comprehensive pan-cancer analyses were performed based on the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database, and the Hallmarks and Kyoto of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Further, estimation of stromal and immune cells in malignant tumors using the expression data (ESTIMATE) algorithm was done to estimate the relationship between the tumor microenvironment (TME) of the osteosarcoma and potential biomarker genes. Results: Commonly known autophagy-related DEG serpin family member 1 (SERPINA1) was found up-regulated in osteosarcomas with distal metastasis. It was a potential oncogene with prognostic value and was associated with an immune microenvironment in pan-cancer. It was also involved in the progression and metastasis of osteosarcoma.The pathway’s response to autophagy and immune response were also enriched in the high expression of the SERPINA1 group. Otherwise, SERPINA1 was associated with tumor immune cell infiltration in the osteosarcoma. Conclusions: The autophagy-related gene, SERPINA1, holds great promise to monitor the association between autophagy and the occurrence and metastasis of osteosarcoma.