Screening for implicated genes in colorectal cancer using whole‑genome gene expression profiling

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• Oncology

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis involves complex genetic alterations.
• Identifying specific genes driving CRC is crucial for developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify differentially expressed genes and key hub genes in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues.
• To explore the biological pathways and protein-protein interactions associated with CRC pathogenesis.
• To investigate potential novel therapeutic targets for CRC.

Main Methods:

• Genome-wide expression profiling of 17 pairs of CRC tumor and adjacent tissues using DNA microarrays.
• Bioinformatic analysis using Cytoscape, String, and DAVID tools for pathway and interaction analysis.
• Validation of 20 identified hub genes using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

Main Results:

• A total of 3,264 differentially expressed genes (1,594 downregulated, 1,670 upregulated) were identified in CRC tissues.
• A network of 306 interacting genes was constructed, revealing 20 top hub genes.
• Four hub genes were associated with small subunit processome components and four with WD repeat domains, suggesting their roles in CRC.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully identified genes and pathways implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis.
• Specific hub genes, particularly those involved in processome assembly and WD repeat domain functions, show promise as novel therapeutic targets for CRC.