Common and differential genetically pathways between ulcerative colitis and colon adenocarcinoma

Area of Science:

• Genomics and bioinformatics
• Molecular biology
• Cancer research

Background:

• Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a prevalent chronic digestive disease with increasing incidence in developing nations.
• UC significantly elevates the risk of developing colon adenocarcinoma (COAC), a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.
• Understanding the molecular links between UC and COAC is vital for predicting patient outcomes and developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify common and differential gene pathways between ulcerative colitis (UC) and colon adenocarcinoma (COAC).
• To analyze protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks for key genes in both diseases.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression from UC to COAC.

Main Methods:

• Gene extraction and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis using Cytoscape software.
• Analysis of gene centralities to identify key regulatory genes.
• Clustering of biological terms associated with common key genes.

Main Results:

• Identified 11 central genes for COAC and 29 for UC.
• Discovered five common key genes shared between UC and COAC.
• Determined 26 biological terms associated with common genes, clustered into seven functional groups.

Conclusions:

• ALB, AKT1, TP53, SRC, and MYC are identified as critical common genes in UC and COAC pathogenesis.
• These genes play significant roles in biological processes relevant to both conditions.
• The study proposes potential differential genes that distinguish UC and COAC, offering insights for further research.