Co-expression Network and Prognosis Analyses of Pyroptosis-related Genes in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer is very difficult to diagnose in the its early stages because of its initial asymptomatic characteristics. In recent years, pyrolysis has been shown identified as a novel type of programmed cell death with inflammation mediated by the gasdermin family. In this study, 33 differentially-expressed pyroptosis-related genes were commonly identified in both lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) patients. Tumor-related gasdermin family genes that were significantly differentially expressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues were identified by our co-expression network analysis. Among them, the mRNA level of GSDMB gene had significant impacts on tumor staging and survival rates of NSCLC patients. Therefore, this gene is a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of NSCLC. In addition, the high expression levels of GSDMC/D were significantly correlated with the low overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (FP) and post-progression survival (PPS) of NSCLC patients. Therefore, this gene is a potential oncogene for NSCLC. Furthermore, four small molecules (erastin, cefotiam, metanephrine, and vorinostat) that could most significantly reverse the NSCLC gene expression were identified. They interacted with GSDMB proteins mainly through H-bonds and hydrophobic interactions. This study provides new therapeutic targets and prognostic makers for NSCLC patients.