1. Immunological Signatures for Early Detection of Human Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma through RNA Transcriptome Analysis of Blood Platelets.
- Author
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Gill, Jappreet Singh, Bansal, Benu, Poojary, Rayansh, Singh, Harpreet, Huang, Fang, Weis, Jett, Herman, Kristian, Schultz, Brock, Coban, Emre, Guo, Kai, and Mathur, Ramkumar
- Subjects
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HEAD & neck cancer diagnosis , *SQUAMOUS cell carcinoma , *RESEARCH funding , *EARLY detection of cancer , *HEAD & neck cancer , *GENETIC markers , *TUMOR markers , *CANCER patients , *TRANSCRIPTION factors , *CELLULAR signal transduction , *RNA , *BLOOD platelets , *JANUS kinases , *BIOINFORMATICS , *GENE expression profiling , *MACHINE learning , *STAT proteins , *SURVIVAL analysis (Biometry) , *FACTOR analysis , *MOLECULAR diagnosis , *OVERALL survival - Abstract
Simple Summary: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a global health concern due to the lack of precise early diagnostic biomarkers and often-delayed diagnosis. This study employs machine learning, weighted gene co-expression network analysis, and network biology to identify transcriptomic markers for HNSCC detection. We identified nine genes with significantly differentially expressed activity in samples from HNSCC patients. These gene signatures could greatly improve early HNSCC identification and warrant further investigation to confirm their predictive and therapeutic significance. The transcriptional landscape of platelets in head and neck cancer patients revealed distinct gene expression profiles compared to healthy controls, underscoring the systemic impact of the tumor on blood platelets. Additionally, the study emphasizes the role of tumor-educated platelets (TEPs), which carry RNA signatures indicative of tumor-derived material, offering a non-invasive source for early-detection biomarkers. Although there has been a reduction in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma occurrence, it continues to be a serious global health concern. The lack of precise early diagnostic biomarkers and postponed diagnosis in the later stages are notable constraints that contribute to poor survival rates and emphasize the need for innovative diagnostic methods. In this study, we employed machine learning alongside weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and network biology to investigate the gene expression patterns of blood platelets, identifying transcriptomic markers for HNSCC diagnosis. Our comprehensive examination of publicly available gene expression datasets revealed nine genes with significantly elevated expression in samples from individuals diagnosed with HNSCC. These potential diagnostic markers were further assessed using TCGA and GTEx datasets, demonstrating high accuracy in distinguishing between HNSCC and non-cancerous samples. The findings indicate that these gene signatures could revolutionize early HNSCC identification. Additionally, the study highlights the significance of tumor-educated platelets (TEPs), which carry RNA signatures indicative of tumor-derived material, offering a non-invasive source for early-detection biomarkers. Despite using platelet and tumor samples from different individuals, our results suggest that TEPs reflect the transcriptomic and epigenetic landscape of tumors. Future research should aim to directly correlate tumor and platelet samples from the same patients to further elucidate this relationship. This study underscores the potential of these biomarkers in transforming early diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies for HNSCC, advocating for further research to validate their predictive and therapeutic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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