Identification of key genes and multiple molecular pathways of metastatic process in prostate cancer

作者：Lihuang Guo, Mingyue Lin, Zhenbo Cheng, Yi Chen, Yue Huang, Keqian Xu · 发表于：PeerJ · 年份：2019 · DOI：10.7717/peerj.7899 · 被引用次数：19 · 研究领域：Connective Tissue Growth Factor Research、FOXO transcription factor regulation、Mechanisms of cancer metastasis

BACKGROUND: Cancer metastasis is well known as the most adverse outcome and the major cause of mortality in cancer patients, including prostate cancer (PCa). There are no credible predictors, to this day, that can reflect the metastatic ability of localized PCa. In the present study, we firstly identified the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and molecular pathways involved in the metastaic process of PCa by comparing gene expressions of metastaic PCa with localized PCa directly, with the purpose of identifying potential markers or therapeutic targets. METHODS: -test adjusted via the Beniamini-Hochberg method. Subsequently, the gene ontology functional and pathway enrichment analyses of DEGs were performed and the protein-protein interaction network was constructed. Hub genes were identified using the plug-in cytoHubba in Cytoscape software by MCC and degree. Furthermore, validation and prognostic significance analysis of the hub genes were performed by UALCAN and gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA). RESULTS: A total of 90 DEGs were identified between localized and metastaic PCa, which consisted of 47 upregulated and 43 downregulated genes. The enriched functions and pathways of the DEGs include catabolic process, cell cycle, response to steroid hormone, extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction and vascular smooth muscle contraction. A total of 10 genes were identified as hub genes and biological process analysis of hub genes showed that cell cyc...