High eukaryotic initiation factor 5A2 expression predicts poor prognosis and may participate in the SNHG16/miR‐10b‐5p/EIF5A2 regulatory axis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: This study attempted to investigate the significance of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A2 (EIF5A2) in the prognosis and regulatory network of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: EIF5A2 expression, prognostic information, and methylation levels of HNSCC were collected from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Quantitative real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and Western blot analyses were performed to determine EIF5A2 levels in HNSCC and normal tissue samples. R software was employed for expression analysis and prognosis assessment of EIF5A2 in HNSCC. A competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was generated with the starBase database. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to determine the enriched physiological functions and network related to high expression of EIF5A2 in HNSCC. Immune infiltration‐related outcomes were acquired from the CIBERSORT and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database. RESULTS: EIF5A2 overexpression was observed in HNSCC and linked to poor progression‐free survival and overall survival time. Cox regression analyses showed that EIF5A2 level was a stand‐alone indicator of HNSCC patients' prognosis. A ceRNA network analysis highlighted the SNHG16/miR‐10b‐5p/EIF5A2 axis in EIF5A2 regulation. The GSEA results indicated that EIF5A2 was involved in complex signaling pathways. The CIBERSORT and TIMER databases revealed significant associations between EIF5A2 expression and immune cell infiltration. CONCLUSION: EIF5A2 overexpression may be a risk factor for prognosis in HNSCC and may be regulated by the SNHG16/miR‐10b‐5p/EIF5A2 axis.