ABSTRACT: For developing a accurate prognostic signature for “pan-driver-gene-negative” LUAD, we employed whole genome microarray expression profiling as a discovery platform to identify candidate genes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis based on whole-genome microarrays indicated that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was activated in “pan-driver-gene-negative” LUAD. Furthermore, the Wnt/β-catenin-pathway-based gene expression profiles revealed 39 transcripts differentially expressed by diagnostic status, with 30 genes being upregulated and 9 downregulated. Finally, a Wnt/β-catenin-pathway-based signature (CSDW) comprising 4 genes (β-catenin, Wnt2b, DVL3 and SOX9) was developed to classify patients into high-risk and low-risk groups in the training cohort. Patients with high-risk scores in the training cohort had shorter overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 10·42, 6·46–16·79; p<0·001) than patients with low-risk scores. The CSDW performance was further validated in an internal cohort and two external cohorts. The protein expression levels of several hub genes, including β-catenin, SOX9, DVL3 and Wnt2b, were strongly correlated with lymphatic metastasis and distant organ metastasis. Furthermore, a nomogram comprising CSDW and other variables was generated to predict progression-free survival and overall survival in the training cohort and performed well in the three independent validation cohorts (C-index: 0·725, 0·697 and 0·693, respectively). For developing a accurate prognostic signature for “pan-driver-gene-negative” LUAD, we employed whole genome microarray expression profiling as a discovery platform to identify candidate genes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis based on whole-genome microarrays indicated that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was activated in “pan-driver-gene-negative” LUAD. Furthermore, the Wnt/β-catenin-pathway-based gene expression profiles revealed 39 transcripts differentially expressed by diagnostic status, with 30 genes being upregulated and 9 downregulated. Finally, a Wnt/β-catenin-pathway-based signature (CSDW) comprising 4 genes (β-catenin, Wnt2b, DVL3 and SOX9) was developed to classify patients into high-risk and low-risk groups in the training cohort. Patients with high-risk scores in the training cohort had shorter overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 10·42, 6·46–16·79; p<0·001) than patients with low-risk scores. The CSDW performance was further validated in an internal cohort and two external cohorts. The protein expression levels of several hub genes, including β-catenin, SOX9, DVL3 and Wnt2b, were strongly correlated with lymphatic metastasis and distant organ metastasis. Furthermore, a nomogram comprising CSDW and other variables was generated to predict progression-free survival and overall survival in the training cohort and performed well in the three independent validation cohorts (C-index: 0·725, 0·697 and 0·693, respectively).
