MMP7 as a potential biomarker of colon cancer and its prognostic value by bioinformatics analysis

Abstract

Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. To identify the candidate genes in the carcinogenesis and progression of colon cancer, the microarray datasets GSE10950, GSE44861 and GSE74602 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and functional enrichment analyses were performed. A total of 176 DEGs were identified, consisting of 55 genes upregulated and 121 genes downregulated in colon cancer tissues compared to non-cancerous tissues. The DEGs were mainly enriched in mineral absorption, nitrogen metabolism and complement and coagulation cascades. By using STRING database analysis, we constructed a coexpression network composed of 140 nodes and 280 edges for the DEGs with a combined score >0.4 and a significant interaction relation. Thirteen hub genes were identified, and poor OS of patients was only associated with high expression of Matrix Metallopeptidase 7 ( MMP7 ), which may be involved in the carcinogenesis, invasion or recurrence of colon cancer. In conclusion, we propose that the DEGs and hub genes identified in the present study may be regarded as diagnostic biomarkers for colon cancer. Moreover, the overexpression of MMP7 may correlate with poor prognosis.

Bioinformatic Analyses and Experimental Verification Reveal that High FSTL3 Expression Promotes EMT via Fibronectin-1/α5β1 Interaction in Colorectal Cancer

“…The FSTL3 expression in CRC was first investigated using the TIMER web tool (https://cistrome.shinyapps.io/timer/) (Li et al, 2017) and the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database (https://www.oncomine.org/) (Tang et al, 2017). The differential expression of FSTL3 was further confirmed using the TCGA-Colon Adenocarcinoma (COAD) cohort and GSE10950, GSE44861 datasets (Zhao et al, 2020;Chen and Ke, 2021).…”

Relationship between Metalloprotease-7 and -14 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloprotease 1 Expression by Mucosal Stromal Cells and Colorectal Cancer Development in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…On the contrary, it has been reported that mice lacking MMP-7 expression have a reduced incidence of colonic adenoma [ 37 ]. In accordance with all of these observations, a recent bioinformatic analysis study based on micro array databases (GSE10950, GSE44861 and GSE744602) identified MMP-7 as the more important gene expression involved in colon carcinogenesis, invasion and recurrence of colon cancer [ 38 ]. This is consistent with the fact that MMP-7 was reported to regulate the occurrence and development of cancer and mediate the proliferation, differentiation, metastasis and invasion of diverse types of cancer cells through various mechanisms (revised by [ 39 ]).…”

Bioinformatics screening of colorectal-cancer causing molecular signatures through gene expression profiles to discover therapeutic targets and candidate agents

“…So, they suggested this gene as a drug target for CRC also [ 110 ]. Chen and Ke [ 111 ] detected the gene MMP7 as a potential biomarker of CRC by bioinformatics analysis. Another study found that it regulates cancer progression and mediate the differentiation, proliferation, invasion and metastasis of various cancer cell types by different mechanisms [ 112 ].…”