Alteration in gene expression profiles of thymoma: Genetic differences and potential novel targets

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate the gene expression profiles associated with thymoma to better understand the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of thymoma. METHODS: Eight patients with thymomas (type A, AB, B1, and B2) and four controls with thymic cysts were analyzed using microarray profiling to identify changes in gene expression. RESULTS: Across all of our samples, 2319 messenger RNAs were upregulated and 2776 were downregulated in thymomas relative to thymic cysts. Gene ontology and pathway analyses revealed that a large number of genes participate in cellular functions, among which MHC class II protein complex assembly, assembly with peptide antigen, calcium activated phosphatidylcholine scrambling, and release of cytoplasmic sequestered NF‐κB were dysregulated, whereas intestinal immune network for immunoglobulin A production, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, the calcium signaling pathway, and pathways related to autoimmune diseases were downregulated. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed gene expression differences between thymomas and thymic cysts, and identified key candidate genes/pathways that might be used as diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets to treat cancer metastasis.