Integrated bioinformatic evaluation unveils a cellular senescence gene signature as a poor prognostic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Cellular senescence (CS) plays a crucial role in various diseases, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. CS-related genes were clustered to identify subtypes. A risk score was constructed and validated in three independent cohorts. Associations with clinical characteristics, tumor immune microenvironment, mutation status, heterogeneity, and treatment efficacy were analyzed. Single-cell analysis was used to examine risk score distribution, and machine learning algorithms along with a nomogram were applied to assess prognostic value. Three CS subtypes were identified, with subtype 1 showing the worst prognosis. High risk score was associated with advanced clinical stage and grade, poor prognosis, and an immunosuppressive microenvironment driven by regulatory T cells. It also correlated with higher tumor mutations (notably TP53) and increased heterogeneity. High-risk patients showed poor response to sorafenib and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and may benefit less from immunotherapy. At single-cell level, the risk score was predominantly expressed in malignant hepatocytes and linked to cell stemness. The CS-related risk score is a potential prognostic indicator for poor outcomes in HCC, playing a significant role in tumor progression and offering potential value for clinical diagnosis and prediction of treatment response.