Comprehensive big data analysis reveals SLC10A3 as a potential biomarker in head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancer (HNC) continues to pose a significant global health challenge, highlighting the urgent need for discovering new therapeutic targets. Recent studies highlight the role of solute carrier (SLC) proteins in cancer progression. This study investigates the expression and potential role of SLC10A3 in HNC, aiming to determine its clinical significance and therapeutic relevance. Publicly available datasets, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Clinical Proteomics Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), were analyzed to assess SLC10A3 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The prognostic relevance of SLC10A3 was assessed using Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Correlation analysis within TCGA, CPTAC, and GEO datasets identified genes associated with SLC10A3 expression. Protein-protein docking studies were performed to predict potential interactions between SLC10A3 and identified protein coding genes. SLC10A3 was found to be significantly upregulated in HNSCC tumor samples compared to normal tissues across TCGA and CPTAC datasets. Increased SLC10A3 expression correlated with poor survival outcomes in TCGA-HNSCC patients. Correlation analysis identified 26 genes positively associated with SLC10A3, where BCAP31, IRAK1, and UBL4A showed consistent correlation across TCGA, CPTAC, and GEO datasets. Computational protein interaction modeling using docking and AI/ML-based Evolutionary Scale Modelling (ESM) framework revealed significant binding affinities between SLC10A3 and identified protein-coding genes, suggesting potential functional interactions. These findings establish SLC10A3 as a promising therapeutic target in HNC. Its consistent upregulation, association with poor prognosis, and potential interactions with key regulatory proteins highlight its relevance for future therapeutic strategies.