Association of TP53 and EZH2 with salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland is a rare salivary gland carcinoma that originates from salivary duct cells and is characterized by local invasion. The relationship between TP53, EZH2 and salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma is still unclear.

Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma datasets GSE153002 and GSE153283 were downloaded from gene expression omnibus (GEO). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), functional enrichment analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), construction and analysis of protein protein interaction (PPI) network, Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) analysis were performed. Gene expression heatmap was drawn. Using RT-qPCR and WB assays to validate the expression of core genes.

98 intersection DEGs were obtained. According to Gene Ontology (GO), in Biological Process (BP) analysis, they are primarily enriched in inflammatory response, cell cycle, cell migration. In Cellular Component (CC) analysis, they mainly enrich in protein kinase complex and protein-containing complex. In Molecular Function (MF) analysis, they are concentrated in protein kinase activity and signal receptor binding. In Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, they mainly enrich in cancer pathways, MAPK, P53, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, transcriptional dysregulation in cancer. Twenty-eight significant modules were identified, core genes (TP53, EZH2) were obtained. The gene expression heatmap reveals high expression of TP53, EZH2 in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma samples. CTD analysis indicates the association of TP53, EZH2 with salivary gland neoplasms, adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and inflammation. Results from RT-qPCR and WB assays showed that TP53 and EZH2 were highly expressed in salivary gland tumor tissues.

TP53 and EZH2 are highly expressed in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma, which may serve as their molecular targets.