Integrating bulk and single cell RNA sequencing to predict the potential therapeutic efficacy of DLX5 in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Through bioinformatics analysis, it was discovered that DLX5 exerts an oncogenic role in HPSCC through co-amplification with TP63 and activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, with functional assays further confirming its promotion of malignant phenotypes. High expression of DLX5 correlates positively with immunosuppressive cells, such as M2 macrophages, and negatively with antitumor CD8+ T cells, indicating an association with an immunosuppressive microenvironment. These findings highlight DLX5 as a key determinant of poor prognosis in HPSCC.