Chen Fuhai, Zheng Anyuan, Li Fen, Wen Silu, Chen Shiming, Tao Zezhang
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China.
Oncol Lett. 2019 Sep;18(3):2955-2966. doi: 10.3892/ol.2019.10616. Epub 2019 Jul 15.
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Recent studies on the pathogenesis of HNC have identified some biochemical associations of this disease, but the molecular mechanisms are not clear. To explore the genetic alterations in head and neck tumors, to identify new high-specificity and high-sensitivity tumor markers, and to investigate potentially effective therapeutic targets, methods were used to study HNC. The GSE58911 microarray dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus online database to identify potential target genes in the carcinogenesis and progression of HNC. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and functional enrichment analysis was performed. In addition, a protein-protein interaction network was also constructed, and gene analysis was undertaken using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes and Cytoscape. A total of 648 differentially expressed genes were identified. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway and Gene Ontology functional enrichment analysis of DEGs included muscle system process, extracellular matrix organization, actin binding, structural molecule activity, structural constituent of muscle, extracellular region part, ECM-receptor interaction, amoebiasis, focal adhesion, drug metabolism-cytochrome P450, and chemical carcinogenesis. There were 26 hub genes identified and biological process analysis revealed that these genes were mainly enriched in extracellular matrix organization, serine-type endopeptidase activity, extracellular matrix, and complement and coagulation cascades. Survival analysis revealed that interleukin (IL)-8 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8), IL1B, and serpin family A member 1 may be involved in the carcinogenesis of HNC. In summary, the DEGs and hub genes identified in the present study may increase understanding of the molecular mechanisms of development of HNC and provide potential target genes for clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy.
头颈癌（HNC）是全球第六大常见癌症。最近关于头颈癌发病机制的研究已经确定了该疾病的一些生化关联，但分子机制尚不清楚。为了探索头颈肿瘤中的基因改变，识别新的高特异性和高灵敏度肿瘤标志物，并研究潜在有效的治疗靶点，采用了多种方法对头颈癌进行研究。从基因表达综合在线数据库下载了GSE58911微阵列数据集，以识别头颈癌发生和发展过程中的潜在靶基因。识别出差异表达基因（DEGs）并进行功能富集分析。此外，还构建了蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用网络，并使用检索相互作用基因的搜索工具和Cytoscape进行基因分析。共识别出648个差异表达基因。对差异表达基因进行京都基因与基因组百科全书通路和基因本体功能富集分析，包括肌肉系统过程、细胞外基质组织、肌动蛋白结合、结构分子活性、肌肉结构成分、细胞外区域部分、细胞外基质-受体相互作用、阿米巴病、粘着斑、药物代谢-细胞色素P450和化学致癌作用。识别出26个枢纽基因，生物学过程分析表明这些基因主要富集在细胞外基质组织、丝氨酸型内肽酶活性、细胞外基质以及补体和凝血级联反应中。生存分析表明，白细胞介素（IL）-8（C-X-C基序趋化因子配体8）、IL1B和丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂家族A成员1可能参与头颈癌的致癌过程。总之，本研究中识别出的差异表达基因和枢纽基因可能会增加对头颈癌发生分子机制的理解，并为临床诊断和靶向治疗提供潜在的靶基因。
