The comprehensive investigation of transcription factor AP-2 alpha in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Transcription factor AP-2 alpha (TFAP2A) has been reported to participate in various tumors. However, the transcriptional levels and prognostic values of TFAP2A remain elusive in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of the TFAP2A in LUAD. METHODS: The transcriptional levels and prognostic effects of TFAP2A were explored in patients with LUAD using various online databases, including the GEPIA, Oncomine, and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases. Meanwhile, meta-analyses were performed to verify the expression levels and prognostic effects of TFAP2A in LUAD using the Lung Cancer Explorer (LCE) database. In addition, target genes of TFAP2A were identified in the Animal TFDB3.0 dataset. RESULTS: Our comprehensively study indicated the mRNA expression levels of TFAP2A in LUAD were significantly higher than that of normal controls. In the survival analyses, higher TFAP2A levels were related to the shortened survival time of patients with LUAD. Meanwhile, the meta-analyses based on the LCE database also suggested the overexpressed TFAP2A led to worsen prognosis of patients with LUAD. Finally, the cell division cycle 6 (CDC6) and aurora kinase A (AURKA) were regarded as two target genes of TFAP2A. CONCLUSIONS: We have performed comprehensive analyses for TFAP2A in patients with LUAD. Patients with higher TFAP2A levels demonstrated worsen prognosis than those with lower TFAP2A levels. The CDC6 and AURKA might be two target genes of TFAP2A. Further molecular biological experiments were required to study the mechanisms of TFAP2A in LUAD.