Comprehensive pan-cancer analysis: essential role of ABCB family genes in cancer

The adenosine triphosphate-binding-cassette (ABC) transporter orchestrates the transmembrane transport of diverse substrates with the aid of ATP as an energy source. ABC transporter constitutes a widespread superfamily of transporters prominently present on the cellular membrane of organisms. Advancements in understanding have unveiled additional roles beyond mere intracellular or extracellular transport functions for the ABC protein family, encompassing involvement in DNA repair, protein translation, and gene expression regulation. Yet its role in tumors is still unknown.

This study drew support from multiple databases, including Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), European Genome-phenome Archive (EGA), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and employed multidimensional bioinformatics analyses, incorporating online databases and the R-project. Through a comprehensive analysis, we seek to discern transcriptional-level disparities among genes and their consequential impacts on prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME), stemness score, immune subtypes, clinical characteristics, and drug sensitivity across human cancers.

ABC transporter subfamily B (ABCB) family genes exhibited heightened expression across diverse tumors, demonstrating a significant correlation with overall prognosis in pan-cancer contexts. Notably, gene expression levels manifested substantial associations with TME, stemness score, immune subtypes, clinical characteristics, and drug sensitivity in specific cancers, including kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP), liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). Within this subset, transporter associated with antigen processing 1 (TAP1), TAP2, and ABCB6 emerged as noteworthy oncogenes.

The outcomes of this study contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the implications of ABCB family genes in tumor progression, offering insights into potential therapeutic targets for cancer. Notably, the identification of ABCB6 as a significant oncogene suggests promising avenues for targeted therapies in KIRP, LIHC, and PAAD.