Breaking the Chain of Progression: An Integrated Network-Based Perspectivefor Underlying MGUS Progression into Hematological and Non-Hematological Cancers

Patients diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) are atan increased risk of developing hematological malignancies, mainly Multiple Myeloma (MM),and non-hematological malignancies, including breast, prostate, and thyroid cancer. The presentstudy aimed to investigate the underlying elemental genes responsible for MGUS progressioninto MM or breast cancer using a network-based modeling approach through gene expressiondata followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Three original gene expressionprofiles were downloaded, namely GSE۴۲۵۶۸, GSE۲۹۴۳۱, and GSE۱۳۵۹۱, from the GEOdataset, and the DEGs were obtained using R software. The intersection of datasets foridentifying DEGs in MGUS with those calculated for MM and breast cancer has been obtainedusing the Venn Diagram. PPI networks were constructed using the STRING database andvisualized with Cytoscape. Hub genes for each overlap were obtained by PPI and sorted usingthe CytoHubba plugin by the degree of connection. Final results, including genes like GAPDH, ATF۳, ITGAM, FN۱, COL۱A۱, ACADM, and the CD۱۹ and CD۱۷ gene expression relationship in MGUS and MM progression, not only harmonize smoothly with the current literature but also contribute to future advancements in cancer treatments