Integrating single-cell sequencing analysis, bioinformatics analysis, and Mendelian randomization analysis to explore FABP4 prediction of prognosis and immune microenvironment in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma

Shun Gao; Xia Long; Jiawei Li; Xialin Zhang; Youhua Wang; Sheng Lin

doi:10.1007/s12672-025-02774-y

Integrating single-cell sequencing analysis, bioinformatics analysis, and Mendelian randomization analysis to explore FABP4 prediction of prognosis and immune microenvironment in patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma

Discov Oncol. 2025 Jul 1;16(1):1225. doi: 10.1007/s12672-025-02774-y.

Authors

Shun Gao^#¹, Xia Long^#², Jiawei Li^#², Xialin Zhang^#², Youhua Wang³, Sheng Lin⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oncology, Renshou County People's Hospital, No. 177, Section 1, Longtan Avenue, Huairen Street, Meishan, Sichuan, China.
² Department of Oncology, The Afiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China, No. 25 Taiping Street, Jiangyang District.
³ Department of Oncology, Gulin County People's Hospital, 92 Dongxin Street, Jinlan Street, Gulin County, Luzhou, Sichuan, China. 1129810010@qq.com.
⁴ Department of Oncology, The Afiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China, No. 25 Taiping Street, Jiangyang District. lslinsheng@163.com.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Lung cancer has a high incidence rate and lung squamous cell carcinoma accounts for about 30% of lung cancer. Due to the lack of accurate diagnosis for early stage lung squamous cell carcinoma and the limitations of treatment methods, the clinical treatment effect of lung squamous cell carcinoma is not satisfactory.we used single-cell sequencing analysis, bioinformatics analysis, and Mendelian randomization analysisto look for risk factors that can predict the onset of lung squamous cell carcinoma, the prognosis of lung squamous cell carcinoma patients, and the "star" molecule-Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 (FABP4) as a mediator of macrophage infiltration in the lung squamous cell carcinoma tumor microenvironment. Overall, this "star" molecule (FABP4) may play an important role in the future prediction and treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma.We first clarified the role of FABP4 in the occurrence and prognosis of LUSC through single-cell sequencing analysis, bioinformatics analysis, and Mendelian randomization analysis. This provides important evidence for the prevention and treatment of LUSC in the future.

Keywords: Bioinformatics analysis; Fatty acid binding protein 4; Lung squamous cell carcinoma; Mendelian random analysis; Single-cell RNA sequencing.