The role of SEC14L4 in esophageal squamous cell cancer: insights into clinical relevance and molecular pathways.

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is the most common type of esophageal cancer. This study aimed to elucidate the role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae-like 4 () in ESCC.

METHODS

To elucidate the role of in ESCC, this study analyzed the clinical data, gene sequencing data, and other relevant data retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The methodology involved several analytical approaches, including nomogram model analysis, co-expression analysis, gene set enrichment and variation analysis, weighted correlation network analysis, drug susceptibility analysis, and single-cell analysis. These methods were employed to evaluate the significance of SEC14L4 in ESCC. The expression of was evaluated via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

expression (P<0.001) was significantly elevated in those with ESCC, especially in patients with locally advanced disease (P=0.005), and indicated a poor prognosis (P=0.045). Findings from the nomogram model analysis identified the contribution of clinical indicators to survival prediction with good efficacy. Subsequently, the single-nucleotide polymorphisms and co-expressed genes of were identified. Furthermore, pathways associated with , including DNA metabolic process, transcription factor binding, apoptosis, and others, were examined. Notably, expression was predominantly observed in monocytes. Drug sensitivity analysis indicated the association of expression with sensitivity of ESCC to the common chemotherapy drugs AICAR, BMS.708163, GNF.2, Nutlin.3a, PD.0325901, and RDEA119. Verification of the high expression of in KYSE520 and KYSE150 was conducted, thereby confirming the study's findings.

CONCLUSIONS

High expression of SEC14L4 is associated with poorer clinical outcomes, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target and suggesting its involvement in the molecular mechanisms underlying ESCC.