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Analysis of the expression, function, prognosis and co-expression genes of DDX20 in gastric cancer
Qingshui Wang1,2,3,4, Yan Ye2, Rongbo Lin5
1Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210000, China.
Abstract:
DDX20 (DEAD-box polypeptide 20) is implicated in many cellular processes involving alteration of RNA secondary structure. The role of DDX20 in gastric cancer is still unknown. In the research, the expression of DDX20 and the functional roles of DDX20 in gastric cancer were detected. The increased DDX20 expression in gastric cancer tissue compared with normal gastric tissue was observed. Functional experiments indicated that DDX20 promoted gastric cancer MGC-803 and AGS cells growth, migration, and invasion in vitro. Surprisingly, survival analysis showed that high expression of DDX20 is a favorable prognostic factor for patients with gastric cancer. In addition, enrichment analysis revealed that there is a positive correlation between DDX20 expression and T cell activation in gastric cancer. but not in normal gastric tissues. Furthermore, we found that DDX20 expression level has significant positive correlations with activated CD8 + T cells and activated CD4 + T cells in gastric cancer. Therefore, we hypothesize that the prognostic role of DDX20 in gastric cancer patients may be due to patients with high DDX20 expression contained better immune activation. Taken together, these findings suggest that DDX20 can promote the progression of gastric cancer in vitro and its prognostic value in gastric cancer may be related to many factors, including immune activation.
Insights
DEAD-box polypeptide 20 (DDX20) promotes gastric cancer cell growth in vitro. However, high DDX20 expression indicates a favorable prognosis, potentially linked to enhanced immune activation in gastric cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- DEAD-box polypeptide 20 (DDX20) is involved in RNA structure alteration.
- The specific role of DDX20 in gastric cancer pathogenesis and prognosis remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression levels of DDX20 in gastric cancer.
- To elucidate the functional significance of DDX20 in gastric cancer cell behavior.
- To determine the prognostic value of DDX20 in gastric cancer patients and its association with immune responses.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of DDX20 expression in gastric cancer tissues versus normal tissues.
- In vitro functional assays (cell growth, migration, invasion) using gastric cancer cell lines (MGC-803, AGS).
- Survival analysis and correlation studies with immune cell markers (CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells) using enrichment analysis.
Main Results:
- DDX20 expression was significantly increased in gastric cancer tissues compared to normal tissues.
- DDX20 promoted the growth, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells in vitro.
- High DDX20 expression correlated with a favorable prognosis and was associated with increased T cell activation, including CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, in gastric cancer patients.
Conclusions:
- DDX20 promotes gastric cancer progression in vitro.
- Despite promoting cancer progression, high DDX20 expression serves as a favorable prognostic marker in gastric cancer.
- The favorable prognostic role of DDX20 may be attributed to its positive correlation with immune activation within the tumor microenvironment.
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