Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 1, 2026

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice
Published on: August 23, 2019
Identification of Key Genes in Thyroid Cancer Microenvironment
Kankan Zhao1, Hao Yang1, Houlong Kang1
1Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland).
Abstract:
BACKGROUND Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays important roles in the development of cancer. However, the roles of TME in thyroid cancer are not well studied. In our study, we aimed to identify genes related to thyroid cancer microenvironment. MATERIAL AND METHODS We combined The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in Malignant Tumor tissues using Expression data (ESTIMATE) datasets to identify differentially expressed genes in thyroid cancer microenvironment. Then, using these differentially expressed genes, we constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and conducted functional enrichment analysis. Genes with degree beyond 12 in the PPI network were regarded as hub genes. Finally, we conducted Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank test and functional enrichment analysis on these hub genes. RESULTS There were 793 differentially expressed genes identified to be associated with immune score and stromal score in thyroid cancer microenvironment. We screened out 30 hub genes by construction of PPI network. The functions of these hub genes were enriched in immune cell activity, cytokine and chemokine activity, cell adhesion molecules, and extracellular matrix, which provided further insight into the roles of these genes in the tumor microenvironment. CXCL10, with the highest degrees in the PPI network, were positively related to overall survival of thyroid cancer patients (P=0.02467). CONCLUSIONS We identified 30 tumor microenvironment related genes in thyroid cancer. Among these hub genes, CXCL10 can be regarded as a prognostic biomarker in thyroid cancer.
Related Concept Videos
The Tumor Microenvironment
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...

