Effects of hub genes on the clinicopathological and prognostic features of lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a common malignancy; however, the majority of its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In the present study, weighted gene co-expression network analysis was applied to construct gene co-expression networks for the GSE19804 dataset, in order to screen hub genes associated with the pathogenesis of LUAD. In addition, with the aid of the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery, Gene Ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the genes in the selected module. Using the GSE40791 dataset and The Cancer Genome Atlas database, the hub genes were identified. It was discovered that the turquoise module was the most significant module associated with the tumor stage of LUAD. After performing functional enrichment analyses, it was indicated that the turquoise module was mainly enriched in signal transduction. Additionally, at the transcriptional and translational level, nine hub genes were identified and validated: Carbonic anhydrase 4 (CA4), platelet and endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM1), DnaJ member B4 (DNAJB4), advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor (AGER), GTPase, IMAP family member 6 (GIMAP6), chromosome 10 open reading frame 54 (C10orf54), dedicator of cytokinesis 4 (DOCK4), Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) and platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase 1b catalytic subunit 3 (PAFAH1B3). CA4, PECAM1, DNAJB4, AGER, GIMAP6, C10orf54 and DOCK4 were expressed at lower levels in the tumor samples, whereas GOLM1 and PAFAH1B3 were highly expressed in tumor samples. In addition, all hub genes were associated with prognosis. In conclusion, one module and nine genes were recognized to be associated with the tumor stage of LUAD. These findings may enhance the understanding of the progression and prognosis of LUAD.