High NLRC5 Expression Is Associated with an Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment and Poor Prognosis in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Immunotherapy efficacy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is often limited by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). NLRC5, a key regulator of MHC-I antigen presentation, exhibits context-dependent roles in tumor immunity; however, its function in ESCC remains unclear. This study aimed to systematically investigate the expression pattern, prognostic value, and immunological role of NLRC5 in ESCC. Methods: An integrated analysis of bulk RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data was performed using multiple cohorts, including The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus, and an in-house ESCC cohort. Differential expression, survival analysis, immune infiltration estimation, and functional enrichment analyses were conducted to elucidate the role of NLRC5 in the tumor microenvironment. Results: NLRC5 was significantly upregulated in ESCC and its high expression independently predicted poor patient survival. Although NLRC5 expression was associated with increased CD8⁺ T cell infiltration, it was paradoxically accompanied by features of T-cell exhaustion and elevated expression of multiple immune checkpoints. Moreover, NLRC5-high tumors were enriched in transcriptional programs related to PANoptosis, indicating an additional immunosuppressive mechanism within the TME. Conclusions: NLRC5 is not only a prognostic biomarker but also a key modulator of an immune-active yet functionally suppressed tumor microenvironment in ESCC. These findings highlight NLRC5 as a potential therapeutic target for restoring effective antitumor immunity.