Investigating the potential mechanism of quercetin against cervical cancer

Abstract

Background Cervical cancer is emerging as a potential target of increased susceptibility to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), leading to compromised survival rates. Despite this critical link, efficacious anti-cervical cancer/COVID-19 interventions remain limited. Quercetin, known for its efficacy against both cancer and viral infections, holds promise as a therapeutic agent. This study aims to elucidate quercetin’s anti-cervical cancer/COVID-19 mechanisms and potential targets. Methods We initiated our investigation with differential gene expression analysis using cervical cancer transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), focusing on intersections with COVID-19-related genes. Network pharmacology was employed to identify the shared targets between cervical cancer/COVID-19 DEGs and quercetin’s targets. Subsequently, Cox proportional hazards analyses were employed to establish a risk score based on these genes. Molecular docking techniques were applied to predict quercetin’s therapeutic targets and mechanisms for mitigating cervical cancer and COVID-19. Results Our findings unveiled 45 potential quercetin targets with anti-cervical cancer/COVID-19 actions. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses highlighted significant enrichment in immune pathways and COVID-19-related pathways. A refined risk score model, comprising PLA2G7, TNF, TYK2, F2, and NRP1, effectively stratified cervical cancer patients into distinct risk groups. Importantly, molecular docking analyses illuminated quercetin’s remarkable binding affinity to the primary protease of the coronavirus. Conclusions In summation, our study suggests that quercetin holds promise as a potential therapeutic agent for mitigating coronavirus function, specifically through its interaction with the primary protease. This research offers novel insights into exploring COVID-19 susceptibility and enhancing survival in cervical cancer patients.