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Published on: December 31, 2014
A pan-cancer analysis of MEX3D in human tumors
Xuezhong Zhang1, Wen Xu2, Xiaolei Wang3
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China.
Background:
MEX3D, a member of the MEX3 RNA-binding protein family, has emerged as a potential regulatory molecule in cancer. However, its role across different tumor types remains largely unexplored.
Methods:
We conducted a pan-cancer analysis of MEX3D using transcriptomic and proteomic data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC). Expression patterns, clinical correlations, survival outcomes, genetic alterations, RNA modification associations, immune infiltration, and functional enrichment were systematically evaluated.
Results:
MEX3D was significantly dysregulated in numerous cancers at both mRNA and protein levels. Its expression correlated with tumor stage in ACC, LIHC, OV, SKCM, and THCA. Elevated MEX3D expression was associated with poor overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) in multiple malignancies, including ACC, LGG, LUAD, and MESO. Genetic alteration analysis revealed frequent amplifications and mutations, particularly in SARC and OV. MEX3D was positively correlated with RNA modification-related genes (m1A, m5C, m6A) and immune regulatory genes such as CD276, TGFB1, VEGFA, and ICOSLG. Additionally, MEX3D expression showed significant associations with tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and cancer-associated fibroblast infiltration. Functional enrichment analyses indicated that MEX3D-related genes are involved in reproductive cellular processes, RNA binding, the Hippo signaling pathway, and microRNA-related oncogenic pathways.
Conclusion:
This pan-cancer analysis highlights the heterogeneous expression and cancer-specific prognostic significance of MEX3D. MEX3D is associated with immune infiltration, immune regulatory genes, RNA modification-related genes, TMB/MSI, and pathways involved in gene regulation and tumor progression. These findings suggest that MEX3D may participate in cancer-specific post-transcriptional and microenvironmental regulatory networks.
Insights
This study reveals MEX3D, a cancer regulatory molecule, is dysregulated across many tumors. MEX3D impacts patient survival and is linked to immune responses and gene regulation, suggesting its role in cancer progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- MEX3D, an RNA-binding protein, is implicated in cancer regulation.
- Its pan-cancer role and prognostic significance are largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the pan-cancer expression, clinical correlation, and functional role of MEX3D.
- To explore MEX3D's association with RNA modifications, immune infiltration, and tumor progression pathways.
Main Methods:
- Utilized transcriptomic and proteomic data from TCGA, GTEx, and CPTAC for pan-cancer analysis.
- Evaluated MEX3D expression, survival outcomes, genetic alterations, RNA modification links, immune infiltration, and functional pathways.
Main Results:
- MEX3D is significantly dysregulated in multiple cancers, correlating with tumor stage and poor survival.
- MEX3D alterations (amplifications, mutations) are frequent; it associates with RNA modification genes, immune regulators (CD276, TGFB1), TMB/MSI, and fibroblasts.
- Functional enrichment links MEX3D to reproductive processes, RNA binding, Hippo signaling, and microRNA pathways.
Conclusions:
- MEX3D exhibits heterogeneous expression and cancer-specific prognostic value.
- MEX3D is implicated in post-transcriptional regulation and tumor microenvironment modulation.
- MEX3D represents a potential pan-cancer therapeutic target involved in gene regulation and tumor progression.
