Fig. 5

Tumor associated fibroblasts (TAFs) is a potential mechanism behind age-related prognosis difference of GBM patients. a Correlation plot showed the relation between main constituents in tumor microenvironment and DEGs. 6 DEGs were significantly correlated with stromal cells. While no DEGs were significantly correlated to immune cells. b, c Heat map showed the correlation among components stromal cells (endothelial cells and fibroblasts), age and DEGs. It showed in box plots that fibroblasts were more enriched component among patients equal and greater than 40 years old than those in patients under 40 years old. d Kaplan–Meier curve showed that patients with higher level of fibroblasts (showed in red) had significantly worse outcome than those with lower level of fibroblasts (showed in blue). Log-rank test was used as statistical method. P = 0.017. e Correlation plot showed the DEGs mostly correlated with fibroblasts. Among these genes, TAGLN, POSTN, TIMP1, SERPINE1 and NNMT was the top five genes mostly correlated with the level of fibroblast