Identification of six hub genes and analysis of their correlation with drug sensitivity in acute myeloid leukemia through bioinformatics

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common hematopoietic malignancy and have unsatisfactory prognosis. Our study aimed to identify hub genes in AML and explore potential biomarkers through integrated bioinformatics. METHODS: Microarray datasets were analyzed to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional enrichment analysis was performed, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was generated by the STRING (11.0) database and Cytoscape (3.7.2) software. Hub genes were screened and verified through GEPIA2 and GEO microarray database. Sensitivity of AML cell lines with high expression of hub genes to the small-molecule drugs were identified using GSCA Lite. RESULTS: A total of 456 DEGs were identified and top 100 genes were screened out, of which six genes (FLT3, PF4, CD163, MRC1, CSF2RB, PPBP) were upregulated in AML and individually had a worse prognosis by the overall survival (OS) analysis. AML cell lines with FLT3-overexpression and CSF2RB-overexpression were sensitive to most small-molecule drugs, while, AML cells with CD163-overexpression were only sensitive to a few drugs. However, sensitivity to Erlotinib was correlated with high expression of PF4 and PPBP. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, FLT3, PF4, CD163, MRC1, CSF2RB, PPBP may be potential biomarkers and potential sensitive small-molecule drugs were correlated with overexpression of the biomarkers in AML.