Pan-cancer gene analysis has advanced our understanding of shared oncogenic mechanisms, aiding early diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapies. DDIAS (DNA Damage Induced Apoptosis Suppressor) has garnered attention for its tumor-specific expression and prognostic value, yet its diagnostic and therapeutic potential remains underexplored. We analyzed DDIAS expression across 33 cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Tumor–normal differential expression was assessed using TCGA normal/adjacent normal tissues where available, including within-patient paired tumor–adjacent comparisons. Diagnostic performance was evaluated by ROC/AUC using TCGA in-cohort controls and further validated in independent GEO cohorts. Prognostic associations (OS/DSS/PFI) were examined with Kaplan–Meier and Cox models, and multivariable Cox regression was performed to account for key clinical covariates when available. Associations with tumor–immune features (immune cell infiltration estimates, checkpoint/cytokine genes), mutations, TMB/MSI, and promoter methylation were also investigated. DDIAS was significantly upregulated in multiple tumor types and showed strong diagnostic discrimination in several cancers. Higher DDIAS expression was associated with adverse survival outcomes in select entities. DDIAS expression also correlated with tumor–immune features, including immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint gene expression. These pan-cancer findings support DDIAS as a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker and suggest associations with tumor–immune modulation. Further mechanistic and experimental studies are warranted to establish causality and therapeutic relevance.
Li et al. (2026) studied this question.