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Liu H, Tang L, Li Y, Xie W, Zhang L, Tang H, Xiao T, Yang H, Gu W, Wang H, Chen P. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: current views on the tumor microenvironment's impact on drug resistance and clinical outcomes. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:20. [PMID: 38254110 PMCID: PMC10802008 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01928-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) exhibits significant variations across different ethnic groups and geographical regions, with Southeast Asia and North Africa being endemic areas. Of note, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is closely associated with almost all of the undifferentiated NPC cases. Over the past three decades, radiation therapy and chemotherapy have formed the cornerstone of NPC treatment. However, recent advancements in immunotherapy have introduced a range of promising approaches for managing NPC. In light of these developments, it has become evident that a deeper understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial. The TME serves a dual function, acting as a promoter of tumorigenesis while also orchestrating immunosuppression, thereby facilitating cancer progression and enabling immune evasion. Consequently, a comprehensive comprehension of the TME and its intricate involvement in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of NPC is imperative for the development of effective anticancer drugs. Moreover, given the complexity of TME and the inter-patient heterogeneity, personalized treatment should be designed to maximize therapeutic efficacy and circumvent drug resistance. This review aims to provide an in-depth exploration of the TME within the context of EBV-induced NPC, with a particular emphasis on its pivotal role in regulating intercellular communication and shaping treatment responses. Additionally, the review offers a concise summary of drug resistance mechanisms and potential strategies for their reversal, specifically in relation to chemoradiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Furthermore, recent advances in clinical trials pertaining to NPC are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huai Liu
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Ling Tang
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Yanxian Li
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Wenji Xie
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Hailin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tengfei Xiao
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Hongmin Yang
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Wangning Gu
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
| | - Pan Chen
- Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
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Avşar G, Pir P. An integrated study to decipher immunosuppressive cellular communication in the PDAC environment. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2023; 9:56. [PMID: 37945567 PMCID: PMC10636193 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-023-00320-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one the most aggressive cancers and characterized by a highly rigid and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The extensive cellular interactions are known to play key roles in the immune evasion, chemoresistance, and poor prognosis. Here, we used the spatial transcriptomics, scRNA-seq, and bulk RNA-seq datasets to enhance the insights obtained from each to decipher the cellular communication in the TME. The complex crosstalk in PDAC samples was revealed by the single-cell and spatial transcriptomics profiles of the samples. We show that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the central cell types in the regulation of microenvironment in PDAC. They colocalize with the cancer cells and tumor-suppressor immune cells and take roles to provide an immunosuppressive environment. LGALS9 gene which is upregulated in PDAC tumor samples in comparison to healthy samples was also found to be upregulated in TAMs compared to tumor-suppressor immune cells in cancer samples. Additionally, LGALS9 was found to be the primary component in the crosstalk between TAMs and the other cells. The widespread expression of P4HB gene and its interaction with LGALS9 was also notable. Our findings point to a profound role of TAMs via LGALS9 and its interaction with P4HB that should be considered for further elucidation as target in the combinatory immunotherapies for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gülben Avşar
- Department of Bioengineering, Gebze Technical University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
- Turkish Academy of Sciences, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Pınar Pir
- Department of Bioengineering, Gebze Technical University, Kocaeli, Turkey
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3
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Siak PY, Heng WS, Teoh SSH, Lwin YY, Cheah SC. Precision medicine in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: comprehensive review of past, present, and future prospect. J Transl Med 2023; 21:786. [PMID: 37932756 PMCID: PMC10629096 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04673-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an aggressive malignancy with high propensity for lymphatic spread and distant metastasis. It is prominent as an endemic malignancy in Southern China and Southeast Asia regions. Studies on NPC pathogenesis mechanism in the past decades such as through Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) infection and oncogenic molecular aberrations have explored several potential targets for therapy and diagnosis. The EBV infection introduces oncoviral proteins that consequently hyperactivate many promitotic pathways and block cell-death inducers. EBV infection is so prevalent in NPC patients such that EBV serological tests were used to diagnose and screen NPC patients. On the other hand, as the downstream effectors of oncogenic mechanisms, the promitotic pathways can potentially be exploited therapeutically. With the apparent heterogeneity and distinct molecular aberrations of NPC tumor, the focus has turned into a more personalized treatment in NPC. Herein in this comprehensive review, we depict the current status of screening, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in NPC. Subsequently, based on the limitations on those aspects, we look at their potential improvements in moving towards the path of precision medicine. The importance of recent advances on the key molecular aberration involved in pathogenesis of NPC for precision medicine progression has also been reported in the present review. Besides, the challenge and future outlook of NPC management will also be highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pui Yan Siak
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Bandar Springhill, 71010, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Win Sen Heng
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Bandar Springhill, 71010, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Sharon Siew Hoon Teoh
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Bandar Springhill, 71010, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
| | - Yu Yu Lwin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Medicine, Mandalay, Myanmar
| | - Shiau-Chuen Cheah
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Bandar Springhill, 71010, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
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4
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Pua LJW, Mai CW, Chung FFL, Khoo ASB, Leong CO, Lim WM, Hii LW. Functional Roles of JNK and p38 MAPK Signaling in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031108. [PMID: 35163030 PMCID: PMC8834850 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members integrate signals that affect proliferation, differentiation, survival, and migration in a cell context- and cell type-specific way. JNK and p38 MAPK activities are found upregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Studies have shown that activation of JNK and p38 MAPK signaling can promote NPC oncogenesis by mechanisms within the cancer cells and interactions with the tumor microenvironment. They regulate multiple transcription activities and contribute to tumor-promoting processes, ranging from cell proliferation to apoptosis, inflammation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Current literature suggests that JNK and p38 MAPK activation may exert pro-tumorigenic functions in NPC, though the underlying mechanisms are not well documented and have yet to be fully explored. Here, we aim to provide a narrative review of JNK and p38 MAPK pathways in human cancers with a primary focus on NPC. We also discuss the potential therapeutic agents that could be used to target JNK and p38 MAPK signaling in NPC, along with perspectives for future works. We aim to inspire future studies further delineating JNK and p38 MAPK signaling in NPC oncogenesis which might offer important insights for better strategies in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment decision-making in NPC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesley Jia Wei Pua
- School of Postgraduate Studies, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia; (L.J.W.P.); (C.-O.L.)
- Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), Institute for Research, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia; (C.-W.M.); (A.S.-B.K.)
| | - Chun-Wai Mai
- Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), Institute for Research, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia; (C.-W.M.); (A.S.-B.K.)
| | - Felicia Fei-Lei Chung
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway 47500, Malaysia;
| | - Alan Soo-Beng Khoo
- Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), Institute for Research, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia; (C.-W.M.); (A.S.-B.K.)
| | - Chee-Onn Leong
- School of Postgraduate Studies, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia; (L.J.W.P.); (C.-O.L.)
- Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), Institute for Research, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia; (C.-W.M.); (A.S.-B.K.)
- AGTC Genomics, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
| | - Wei-Meng Lim
- Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), Institute for Research, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia; (C.-W.M.); (A.S.-B.K.)
- School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (W.-M.L.); (L.-W.H.)
| | - Ling-Wei Hii
- Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), Institute for Research, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia; (C.-W.M.); (A.S.-B.K.)
- School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (W.-M.L.); (L.-W.H.)
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Alteration of payload in extracellular vesicles by crosstalk with mesenchymal stem cells from different origin. J Nanobiotechnology 2021; 19:148. [PMID: 34016123 PMCID: PMC8139033 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-00890-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The application of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) requires customized materials to target disease or cell damage. We hypothesized that EVs exert different inflammatory effects on one recipient cell, although stem cells of different origins in humans have similar payloads. Results Here, the payload of EVs released by crosstalk between MSCs and human middle ear epithelial cells (HMEECs) extracted from adipose tissue, bone marrow and tonsils significantly increased the level of anti-inflammatory factors. EVs derived from the co-culture medium decreased TNF-, COX-2, IL-1, and IL-6 levels to approximately zero within 3h in HMEECs. Expression of miR-638 and amyloid- A4 precursor protein-binding family A member 2 was analyzed using microarrays and gene ontology analysis, respectively. Conclusions In conclusion, stem cells of different origins have different payloads through crosstalk with recipient-specific cells. Inducing specific factors in EVs by co-culture with MSCs could be valuable in regenerative medicine. Graphical abstract ![]()
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Molecular Characteristics of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and Its Effects in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094999. [PMID: 34066808 PMCID: PMC8125876 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein, and its homologs amyloid precursor-like protein 1 (APLP1) and amyloid precursor-like protein 2 (APLP2) are highly conserved in mammals. APP and APLP are known to be intimately involved in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer's disease and to play important roles in neuronal homeostasis and development and neural transmission. APP and APLP are also expressed in non-neuronal tissues and are overexpressed in cancer cells. Furthermore, research indicates they are involved in several cancers. In this review, we examine the biological characteristics of APP-related family members and their roles in cancer.
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Mao X, Yang X, Chen X, Yu S, Yu S, Zhang B, Ji Y, Chen Y, Ouyang Y, Luo W. Single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed the heterogeneity and microenvironment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:1262-1274. [PMID: 33393143 PMCID: PMC7935798 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the human gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on intra- and peri-tumor tissues from GIST patients with the aim of discovering the heterogeneity of tumor cells in GIST and their interactions with other cells. We found four predominating cell types in GIST tumor tissue, including T cells, macrophages, tumor cells, and NK cells. Tumor cells could be clustered into two groups: one was highly proliferating and associated with high risk of metastasis, the other seemed "resting" and associated with low risk. Their clinical relevance and prognostic values were confirmed by RNA-seq of 65 GIST samples. T cells were the largest cell type in our single-cell data. Two groups of CD8+ effector memory (EM) cells were in the highest clonal expansion and performed the highest cytotoxicity but were also the most exhausted among all T cells. A group of macrophages were found polarized to possess both M1 and M2 signatures, and increased along with tumor progression. Cell-to-cell interaction analysis revealed that adipose endothelial cells had high interactions with tumor cells to facilitate their progression. Macrophages were at the center of the tumor microenvironment, recruiting immune cells to the tumor site and having most interactions with both tumor and nontumor cells. In conclusion, we obtained an overview of the GIST microenvironment and revealed the heterogeneity of each cell type and their relevance to risk classifications, which provided a novel theoretical basis for learning and curing GISTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofan Mao
- Clinical Research Institute, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China.,Medical Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Immune Repertoire in Foshan, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Xuezhu Yang
- Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Xiangping Chen
- Clinical Research Institute, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China.,Medical Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Immune Repertoire in Foshan, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Sifei Yu
- Clinical Research Institute, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China.,Medical Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Immune Repertoire in Foshan, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Si Yu
- Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Beiying Zhang
- Clinical Research Institute, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China.,Medical Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Immune Repertoire in Foshan, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Yong Ji
- Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Yihao Chen
- Clinical Research Institute, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China.,Medical Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Immune Repertoire in Foshan, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Ying Ouyang
- Clinical Research Institute, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China.,Medical Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Immune Repertoire in Foshan, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Wei Luo
- Clinical Research Institute, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China.,Medical Engineering Technology Research and Development Center of Immune Repertoire in Foshan, The First People's Hospital of Foshan & Sun Yat-Sen University Foshan Hospital, Foshan, China
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Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis Identifies ELAVL1 and APP as Candidate Crucial Genes for Crohn's Disease. J Immunol Res 2020; 2020:3067273. [PMID: 32724827 PMCID: PMC7382743 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3067273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune imbalance and barrier destruction of intestinal mucosa are the central pathogenic factors of Crohn's disease (CD). In this study, three independent microarray studies of CD were integrated and 9912 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analysed by NetworkAnalyst to screen candidate crucial genes. NetworkAnalyst identified ELAV-like RNA binding protein 1 (ELAVL1) as the most crucial upregulated gene and amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) as the most crucial downregulated gene in peripheral blood of CD patients. By computing significance with hypergeometric test based on the KEGG pathway database, upregulated DEGs highlight the pathways of T cell receptor signaling and the differentiation of T helpers. Downregulated DEGs were found enriched in pathways in multiple cancers, MAPK signaling, Rap1 signaling, and PI3K-AKT signaling. Further taking all DEGs together, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) brought out the NOD-like receptor (NLR) signaling pathway which could be regulated by ELAVL1. xCell found decreased naïve and differentiated T cell proportions in the peripheral blood of CD patients suggesting T cell migration to the intestinal tissue and/or exhaustion. Further, ELAVL1 expression correlating with multiple T cell proportions suggests that ELAVL1 may regulate T cell activation. These findings illustrated that ELAVL1 and APP were candidate crucial genes in the peripheral blood of CD patients. ELAVL1 possibly acts as a key regulator of T cell activation via the NLR signaling pathway. APP might be a downstream effector of infliximab treatment connecting with MAPK signaling.
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Xu Y, Huang X, Ye W, Zhang Y, Li C, Bai P, Lin Z, Chen C. Comprehensive analysis of key genes associated with ceRNA networks in nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on bioinformatics analysis. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:408. [PMID: 32863767 PMCID: PMC7448472 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01507-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy with high morbidity rates in the east and southeast Asia. The molecular mechanisms of NPC remain largely unknown. We explored the pathogenesis, potential biomarkers, and prognostic indicators of NPC. METHODS We analyzed mRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs) in the whole transcriptome sequencing dataset of our hospital (five normal tissues vs. five NPC tissues) and six microarray datasets (62 normal tissues vs. 334 NPC tissues) downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE12452, GSE13597, GSE95166, GSE126683, and GSE70970, GSE43039). Differential expression analyses, gene ontology (GO) enrichment, kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were conducted. The lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed using the miRanda and TargetScan database, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was built using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) software. Hub genes were identified using Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE), NetworkAnalyzer, and CytoHubba. RESULTS We identified 61 mRNAs, 14miRNAs, and 10 lncRNAs as shared DEGs related to NPC in seven datasets. Changes in NPC were enriched in the chromosomal region, sister chromatid segregation, and nuclear chromosome segregation. GSEA indicated that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, phosphatidylinositol-3 OH kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) pathway, apoptotic pathway, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were involved in the initiation and development of NPC. Finally, 20 hub genes were screened out via the PPI network. CONCLUSIONS Several DEGs and their biological processes, pathways, and interrelations were found in our current study by bioinformatics analyses. Our findings may offer insights into the biological mechanisms underlying NPC and identify potential therapeutic targets for NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanji Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital & Fujian Cancer Hospital, No. 420, Fuma Road, Fuzhou, 350014 Fujian People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital & Fujian Cancer Hospital, No. 420, Fuma Road, Fuzhou, 350014 Fujian People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian People’s Republic of China
| | - Wangzhong Ye
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital & Fujian Cancer Hospital, No. 420, Fuma Road, Fuzhou, 350014 Fujian People’s Republic of China
- Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian People’s Republic of China
| | - Yangfan Zhang
- Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian People’s Republic of China
| | - Changkun Li
- Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian People’s Republic of China
| | - Penggang Bai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital & Fujian Cancer Hospital, No. 420, Fuma Road, Fuzhou, 350014 Fujian People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhizhong Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital & Fujian Cancer Hospital, No. 420, Fuma Road, Fuzhou, 350014 Fujian People’s Republic of China
| | - Chuanben Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital & Fujian Cancer Hospital, No. 420, Fuma Road, Fuzhou, 350014 Fujian People’s Republic of China
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