A Comprehensive Pan-Cancer Analysis Revealing IGF2 Gene as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genetics
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Cancer is a leading cause of death, driven by genetic alterations like those involving the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene.
• IGF2's role in fetal development and liver cancer is known, but its pan-cancer diagnostic, prognostic, and immune landscape is unmapped.
• This study comprehensively analyzes IGF2's biomarker potential and epigenetic regulation across various human cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of IGF2.
• To define the biomarker potential of IGF2 across multiple human cancers.
• To investigate the epigenetic regulation of IGF2 in tumorigenesis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized bioinformatic platforms (TIMER, GEPIA, UALCAN, cBioPortal) for gene expression and mutation analysis.
• Assessed immune infiltration and tumor-immune interactions related to IGF2.
• Analyzed TCGA, GTEx, and GEO databases, performing Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Main Results:

• IGF2 was significantly upregulated in cholangiocarcinoma (CHOL), liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), kidney chromophobe (KICH), and stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD).
• Elevated IGF2 expression correlated with a good prognosis in kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP).
• IGF2 expression linked to macrophages and CD4+ T cells in STAD, influencing the tumor immune microenvironment; missense mutations and deletions were common.

Conclusions:

• IGF2 shows potential as a diagnostic biomarker for CHOL, KICH, LIHC, and STAD.
• IGF2 may serve as a prognostic biomarker in KIRP.
• Further research into IGF2's role in cancer is warranted.