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Updated: Mar 22, 2026
Therapy Testing in a Spheroid-based 3D Cell Culture Model for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 20, 2018
Identification of potential therapeutic target genes and mechanisms in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by
Jing Kuang1, Mei Zhao2, Huilian Li1
1Department of Plastic Surgery, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, P.R. China.
Abstract:
The present study aimed to identify the potential target genes and underlying molecular mechanisms involved in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) by bioinformatics analysis. Microarray data of a Gene Expression Omnibus series GSE6631 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, which was generated from paired samples of HNSCC and normal tissue from 22 patients, and was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed to investigate the functions of the identified DEGs. Furthermore, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of these DEGs was constructed using Cytoscape software. Between HNSCC and normal samples there was a difference in 419 DEGs, including 196 upregulated and 223 downregulated genes. The upregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in GO terms of cell adhesion, extracellular matrix (ECM) organization and collagen metabolic process, while the downregulated DEGs were mainly associated with epidermis development and epidermal cell differentiation. The DEGs were enriched in pathways such as ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion and drug metabolism. Fibronectin 1 (FN1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) and matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) were hub nodes in the PPI network. These results suggested that cell adhesion and drug metabolism may be associated with HNSCC development, and genes such as FN1, EGFR, COL4A1 and MMP-9 may be potential therapeutic target genes in HNSCC.
Insights
This study identifies key genes and molecular pathways in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using bioinformatics. Findings highlight cell adhesion and drug metabolism genes as potential therapeutic targets for HNSCC.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Bioinformatics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a significant global health concern.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving HNSCC is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify potential target genes and molecular mechanisms in HNSCC through bioinformatics analysis.
- To explore the functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction networks of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HNSCC.
Main Methods:
- Downloaded and analyzed microarray data (GSE6631) from paired HNSCC and normal tissues.
- Performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses.
- Constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using Cytoscape.
Main Results:
- Identified 419 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HNSCC and normal tissues (196 upregulated, 223 downregulated).
- Upregulated DEGs were enriched in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, and collagen metabolism.
- Downregulated DEGs were associated with epidermis development and differentiation. Key pathways included ECM-receptor interaction and focal adhesion. Hub genes: FN1, EGFR, COL1A1, MMP-9.
Conclusions:
- Cell adhesion and drug metabolism pathways are implicated in HNSCC development.
- Genes such as Fibronectin 1 (FN1), Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), Collagen Type I Alpha 1 (COL1A1), and Matrix Metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) represent potential therapeutic targets for HNSCC.
