Comprehensive bioinformatic analysis of MMP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma and establishment of relevant prognostic model

Matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) encodes endopeptidases associated with degradation of multiple components of the extracellular matrix. This function has increasingly been considered to play a major proteolysis role in tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the relationship between MMP1 gene expression, tumor-immune microenvironment and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients remains mostly unclear. This study focused on a comprehensive analysis of MMP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma, specifically the prognosis and tumor-immune microenvironment. MMP1 expression was analyzed using TCGA database and clinical samples. MMP1 associated mechanisms, pathways, mutations and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma were evaluated. We also analyzed the tumor-immune microenvironment and corresponding treatments. Our research demonstrated that MMP1 expression was upregulated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and correlated with poor survival. A prognostic model was established and its performance evaluated. We also found and report various correlations between MMP1 and immune-related cells/genes, as well the potential therapeutic agents. These findings indicate that MMP1 can potentially be a promising prognostic biomarker and indicator of the tumor-immune microenvironment status in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Automated summary

This study comprehensively analyzed MMP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma and found that MMP1 was upregulated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and correlated with poor survival. A prognostic model was established and various correlations between MMP1 and immune-related cells/genes, as well as potential therapeutic agents, were identified.