P4HA1 Promotes Cell Migration and Colonization in Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HpSCC) is an aggressive cancer with limited treatment options.
• Identifying molecular markers is crucial for improving patient survival and developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key molecules associated with HpSCC patient survival using integrated in silico and in vitro approaches.
• To investigate the role of identified hub genes in HpSCC progression.

Main Methods:

• Screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.
• Functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction network analyses to identify hub genes.
• In vitro functional analysis of hub genes in HpSCC cell lines.

Main Results:

• DEGs were predominantly associated with extracellular matrix functions.
• High expression of prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 1 (P4HA1) was significantly correlated with reduced patient survival.
• P4HA1 knockdown inhibited HpSCC cell migration and colonization, while P4HA1 inhibitors suppressed proliferation.

Conclusions:

• P4HA1 plays a critical role in HpSCC progression and is a potential prognostic biomarker.
• P4HA1 represents a promising therapeutic target for HpSCC treatment.