Tracing the controller genes related to the metastasis mechanisms in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is an aggressive malignancy, whichis characterized by high morbidity. Approximately ۶۵۰,۰۰۰ new HNSCC cases are reported annually,out of which only ۴۰–۵۰% patients will survive for ۵ years [۱]. Distant metastasis is a major factorassociated with poor prognosis, and in turn, reduced survival in HNSCC, but its underlying molecularmechanisms are not well-known [۲]. In the absence of a robust biomarker, patients at higher risk formetastasis cannot be provided with the effective treatment. Therefore, a deeper understanding of suchmechanisms is a crucial unmet need to identify essential genes that could serve as effective biomarkers.The objective of the present study is a comprehensive analysis of transcriptome data associated withmetastasizing and non-metastasizing HNSCC, aiming to capture controller genes that are related to themetastasis mechanisms. For such purpose, we have conducted liquid association (LA) analysis toidentify dynamic co-expression relations and their corresponding LA-scouting genes [۳, ۴]. Then, thebiologically relevant relations were detected using computational methods. Subsequently, for eachsignificant LA-scouting gene, the survival curves were calculated according to the Kaplan–Meiermethod and differences between curves were assessed using the log-rank test. The results indicated thatthe low-expression levels of Dmtn, Camk۲a, C۱۹orf۳۳ and A۴galt are associated with shortermetastasis-free survival; on the contrary, the low-expression levels of Usp۱۳, Dffa and Fam۱۸۱b areassociated with longer metastasis-free survival.

کلیدواژه ها:

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck ، Liquid association Analysis ، Distant metastasis ، Metastasis-free survival