Glycolysis rate-limiting enzyme PFKP: A pan-cancer predictor for prognostic significant, immunological correlation, and drug sensitivity prediction

Background: PFKP (phosphofructokinase, platelet), a rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis, plays a decisive role in various human physio pathological processes. Multiple function of PFKP in different cancer types was reported, including lung cancer, breast cancer et al. However, systematic pan-cancer analysis of PFKP has not been performed now, which could reflect its clinically value about diagnosis, prognosis, drug sensitivity, and immunological correlation. Methods Systematic bioinformation analysis of PFKP was performed based on several public datasets including TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas), CCLE (Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia), GTEx (Genotype-Tissue Expression Project), and HPA (Human Protein Atlas). Prospective carcinogenesis of PFKP in pan-cancer was estimated by expression analysis, effect on patients’ prognosis, diagnosis significant evaluation, and immunity regulation estimation. Then, pan-cancer function enrichment of PFKP was also accessed through its effect on signaling score and gene expression profile. Finally, upstream expressing regulation of PFKP was explored by promoter DNA methylation and transcription factors (TFs) prediction. Results Our analysis revealed that highly expression of PFKP was found in most cancer types. Meanwhile, high level of PFKP displayed a significant correlation with poor prognosis of patients across pan-cancer. And a fine diagnosis value of PFKP was summarized, especially in its positive correlation with PD-L1 (programmed cell death-Ligand 1). Then, we also found an obvious immunity regulating effect of PFKP in most cancer types. PFKP also had a remarkably negative correlation with several cancer drugs. Finally, ectopic expression of PFKP may depend on DNA methylation and several predicated transcription factors, including KLF (KLF transcription factor) and Sp (Sp transcription factor) family. Conclusion This pan-cancer analysis revealed that high expression level of PFKP might be a fine biomarker and predictor in most cancer types. Meanwhile, performance of PFKP across pan-cancer also implied its meaningful role in cancer immunity regulation even in immunotherapy and drug resistance. All in all, PFKP might be explored as an aux monitor for pan-cancer early prognosis and diagnosis.