Comprehensive Analysis Revealed that CDKN2A is a Biomarker for Immune Infiltrates in Multiple Cancers

Abstract

The <i>CDKN2A</i> (cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A/multiple tumor suppressor 1) gene, also known as the <i>P16</i> gene, encodes multiple tumor suppressor 1 (<i>MTS1</i>), which belongs to the INK4 family. In tumor tissue, <i>CDKN2A</i> has a high expression level compared with normal tissue and reflects prognosis in tumor patients. Our research targeted the analysis of <i>CDKN2A</i> expression in 33 tumors and clinical parameters, patient prognosis and tumor immunity roles. The <i>CDKN2A</i> expression level was significantly correlated with the tumor mutation burden (TMB) in 10 tumors, and the expression of <i>CDKN2A</i> was also correlated with MSI (microsatellite instability) in 10 tumors. <i>CDKN2A</i> expression was associated with infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) levels in 22 pancancers, thus suggesting that <i>CDKN2A</i> expression is associated with tumor immunity. Enrichment analysis indicated that <i>CDKN2A</i> expression was involved in natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity pathways, antigen processing and presentation, olfactory transduction pathways, and regulation of the autophagy pathway in multiple cancers. <i>CDKN2A</i> was significantly associated with several immune cell infiltrates in pantumors. <i>CDKN2A</i> may serve as a promising prognostic biomarker and is associated with immune infiltrates across cancers.