Key genes and pathways in thyroid cancer based on gene set enrichment analysis

Abstract

The incidence of thyroid cancer and its associated morbidity has shown the most rapid increase among all cancers since 1982, but the mechanisms involved in thyroid cancer, particularly significant key genes induced in thyroid cancer, remain undefined. In many studies, gene probes have been used to search for key genes involved in causing and facilitating thyroid cancer. As a result, many possible virulence genes and pathways have been identified. However, these studies lack a case contrast for selecting the most possible virulence genes and pathways, as well as conclusive results with which to clarify the mechanisms of cancer development. In the present study, we used gene set enrichment and meta-analysis to select key genes and pathways. Based on gene set enrichment, we identified 5 downregulated and 4 upregulated mixed pathways in 6 tissue datasets. Based on the meta-analysis, there were 17 common pathways in the tissue datasets. One pathway, the p53 signaling pathway, which includes 13 genes, was identified by both the gene set enrichment analysis and meta-analysis. Genes are important elements that form key pathways. These pathways can induce the development of thyroid cancer later in life. The key pathways and genes identified in the present study can be used in the next stage of research, which will involve gene elimination and other methods of experimentation.

Bioinformatics analysis of key genes and latent pathway interactions based on the anaplastic thyroid carcinoma gene expression profile

“…Hébrant et al (14) reported that a more marked EMT was the qualitative difference between PTC and ATC, by examining 11 ATC and 48 PTC samples in GSE33630. He et al (15) found that the p53 signaling pathway, which included 13 genes, was important for thyroid cancer using gene set enrichment and meta-analysis. Xu et al (16) selected the BCL2, MRPS31, ID4, RASAL2, DLG2, MY01B, ZBTB5, PRKCQ, PPP6C genes and an miscRNA on considering NT, ATC and PTC together.…”

“…For example, Hébrant et al (14) found that ATC and PTC overlapped. He et al (15) analyzed 13 genes and one pathway associated with ATC. In addition, Xu et al found nine genes and one miscRNA, which were identified as candidates for the progression of thyroid cancer (16).…”

Network-Based Genetic Profiling Reveals Cellular Pathway Differences Between Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma and Follicular Thyroid Adenoma

“…Our study thus identified a number of important pathways that were differentially expressed in FTC, some of which would be expected by the malignant profile of FTC compared to FTA. For example, the p53 signalling pathway plays an important role in cancer cell apoptosis and DNA repair by causing cycle arrest in response to DNA damage [37], and has been previously implicated in thyroid cancers [38]. Cell cycle progression is regulated and facilitated by cyclin-dependent kinases that are activated by cyclins such as cyclin D1.…”

A system biology approach reveals cellular pathway differences between follicular thyroid carcinoma and follicular thyroid adenoma

“…Our study thus identified a number of important pathways that were differentially expressed in FTC, some of which would be expected by the malignant profile of FTC compared to FTA. For example, the p53 signaling pathway plays an important role in cancer cell apoptosis and DNA repair by causing cycle arrest in response to DNA damage [57] and previously implicated in thyroid cancers [12]. Cell cycle progression is regulated and facilitated by cyclin-dependent kinases that are activated by cyclins such as cyclin D1.…”