Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 23, 2025

Analyzing Tumor Gene Expression Factors with the CorExplorer Web Portal

Analyzing Tumor Gene Expression Factors with the CorExplorer Web Portal

Published on: October 11, 2019

Comprehensive Analysis of mRNA Expression Profiles in Head and Neck Cancer by Using Robust Rank Aggregation and

Zaizai Cao¹, Yinjie Ao¹, Yu Guo¹

¹Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province 310003, China.

Biomed Research International

|December 30, 2020

Abstract

Background:

Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer in the world; its pathogenic mechanism remains to be further clarified.

Methods:

Robust rank aggregation (RRA) analysis was utilized to identify the metasignature dysregulated genes, which were then used for potential drug prediction. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed on all metasignature genes to find hub genes. DNA methylation analysis, GSEA, functional annotation, and immunocyte infiltration analysis were then performed on hub genes to investigate their potential role in HNSCC.

Result:

A total of 862 metasignature genes were identified, and 6 potential drugs were selected based on these genes. Based on the result of WGCNA, six hub genes (ITM2A, GALNTL1, FAM107A, MFAP4, PGM5, and OGN) were selected (GS > 0.1, MM > 0.75, GS p value < 0.05, and MM p value < 0.05). All six genes were downregulated in tumor tissue (FDR < 0.01) and were related to the clinical stage and prognosis of HNSCC in different degrees. Methylation analysis showed that the dysregulation of ITM2A, GALNTL1, FAM107A, and MFAP4 may be caused by hypermethylation. Moreover, the expression level of all 6 hub genes was positively associated with immune cell infiltration, and the result of GSEA showed that all hub genes may be involved in the process of immunoregulation.

Conclusion:

All identified hub genes could be potential biomarkers for HNSCC and provide a new insight into the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck tumors.

More Related Videos

Development of Compendium for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Development of Compendium for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: April 12, 2024

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis

Published on: March 30, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Ribosome Profiling

Ribosome Profiling

Ribosome profiling or ribo-sequencing is a deep sequencing technique that produces a snapshot of active translation in a cell. It selectively sequences the mRNAs protected by ribosomes to get an insight into a cell’s translation landscape at any given point in time.
Applications of ribosome profiling
Ribosome profiling has many applications, including in vivo monitoring of translation inside a particular organ or tissue type and quantifying new protein synthesis levels.
The technique...

RNA-seq

RNA-seq

RNA sequencing, or RNA-Seq, is a high-throughput sequencing technology used to study the transcriptome of a cell. Transcriptomics helps to interpret the functional elements of a genome and identify the molecular constituents of an organism. Additionally, it also helps in understanding the development of an organism and the occurrence of diseases.
Before the discovery of RNA-seq, microarray-based methods and Sanger sequencing were used for transcriptome analysis. However, while...

Cancer Survival Analysis

Cancer Survival Analysis

Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...

MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Fatal Pharyngeal Cellulitis Caused by Rhizopus microsporus in a Patient with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Infection and drug resistance·2026

Recognition, Differential Diagnosis, and Clinical Management of Pseudoprogression in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Ear, nose, & throat journal·2026

Pepsin in Vocal Fold Leukoplakia: Pathobiological Role, Diagnostic Value, and Therapeutic Implications.

Ear, nose, & throat journal·2026

Deep Learning-Driven Pathological Prediction of Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Primary Whole Slide Images.

Cancers·2026

Multidisciplinary Team-Assisted Rescue of Innominate Artery Hemorrhage During Tracheotomy for Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis Post-Thyroidectomy for Thyroid Cancer: A Case Report and Scoping Literature Review.

Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology·2026

Radiomics analysis of MRI improves prediction of lymph node metastasis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Future oncology (London, England)·2026

See all related articles