High TCTA expression is an adverse prognostic biomarker in acute myeloid leukemia

BackgroundAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) prognosis varies greatly, underscoring the need for novel biomarkers to improve patient stratification. T-cell leukemia translocation-associated gene (TCTA) has emerged as a potential player in hematological malignancies, yet its role in AML remains unexplored.ObjectiveTo investigate the prognostic significance of TCTA in AML and elucidate its functional mechanisms.MethodsRNA sequencing data from 173 AML patients (TCGA) and 70 normal controls (GTEx) were analyzed. Patients were categorized into high and low TCTA expression groups. Bioinformatics tools assessed Gene Ontology, KEGG pathways, and immune infiltration and constructed a nomogram predicting 1-5-year overall survival (OS).ResultsHigh TCTA expression correlated with significantly reduced OS (<i>P</i> < 0.001), with multivariate analysis identifying TCTA expression alongside age and cytogenetic risk as independent OS predictors. Receiver operating characteristic analysis validated TCTA's diagnostic potential. Enrichment analyses implicated TCTA in pathways critical to AML, such as hematopoiesis, p53 signaling, and DNA methylation, with a notable association with natural killer (NK) cell activity.ConclusionsElevated TCTA expression signifies poor prognosis in AML, positioning it as a promising prognostic biomarker. Its involvement in key AML-related pathways highlights TCTA's functional relevance and potential as a therapeutic target in AML management.