Bioinformatics Analysis of Key Genes and Pathways of Cervical Cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Globally, cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cancer affecting women. Although effective screening reduces its incidence, it remains one of the most serious cancers threatening the health of women. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to find new genes that can be used as potential biomarkers for the prognosis of CC. METHODS AND RESULTS: After downloading three datasets such as GSE6791, GSE63678, and GSE63514 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), we combined the expression matrixes and analyzed them to obtain the differential expressed genes (DEGs). Next, using the STRING website, we performed the protein interaction network analysis. Subsequently, hub genes were screened using the R and Cytoscape software. Then, the expression difference and survival analyses of the hub genes were confirmed using GIPIA. Here, we established that the KNTC1 gene was correlated to the overall survival prognosis of CC. Besides, the expression of the KNTC1 gene in the GSE63514 dataset was significantly different from that of the normal cervix, cervical pre-cancerous lesions, and CC. Consequently, immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the results have a definite diagnostic value. CONCLUSION: The KNTC1 gene could be linked with the pathophysiology of CC and maybe one of the early diagnostic markers for the diagnosis of cervical pre-cancerous lesions.