Matrix metalloproteinase 1: a better biomarker for squamous cell carcinoma by multiple microarray analyses.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Bioinformatics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a prevalent skin cancer.
• The role of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) in SCC development requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the role of MMP1 in the development of SCC using bioinformatics approaches.
• To identify MMP1 as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for SCC.

Main Methods:

• Acquired gene expression data from 10 Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) series (5 head and neck SCCs and 5 cutaneous SCCs).
• Identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses.
• Utilized Cytoscape software to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and identify hub proteins.

Main Results:

• MMP1 was the top-ranked upregulated gene in 9 out of 10 SCC GSE series.
• MMP1 was significantly associated with collagen catabolic processes and extracellular matrix disassembly.
• KEGG pathway analysis revealed MMP1 involvement in pathways related to cancer and rheumatoid arthritis; MMP1 was identified as a key hub protein in the PPI network.

Conclusions:

• MMP1 plays a pivotal role in the progression from normal skin to premalignant lesions and SCC.
• MMP1 represents a promising therapeutic target for SCC diagnosis and prevention.