Exploring BIRC Family Genes as Prognostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Prostate Cancer

Abstract The potential oncogenic role of Baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) Repeat-Containing (BIRC) genes in prostate cancer (PCa) has yet to be fully investigated. Two genes associated with disease recurrence, BIRC5 and BIRC7, were identified through survival analysis, and prostate cancer patients were categorized into two subtypes, C1 and C2, based on these genes. We performed survival analyses to assess the relationship between subtypes and the prognosis of PCa. Single-cell dataset analysis was used to identify specific cell types with enriched expression of BIRC family genes. Our findings demonstrate that BIRC5 and BIRC7 exhibit higher expression in PCa tissues compared to non-cancerous tissues. High expression of BIRC5 and BIRC7 independently correlates with an adverse prognosis in PCa. The analysis of mechanisms reveals that the differentially expressed genes impact signaling pathways associated with cancer and immunity. BIRC5/BIRC7 correlate with several immune cells infiltrating levels including T cells and macrophages. Furthermore, our research indicates that elevated expression of BIRC5 diminishes the efficacy of immunotherapy in PCa. These findings highlight the potential of BIRC5/BIRC7 or C1 subtype as prognostic biomarkers, offering new insights into viable targets for the development of therapeutic biomarkers and immunotherapeutic drugs for PCa.