Integrative analysis of efferocytosis- and invasion-related genes as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer

Abstract Breast cancer remains a primary source of cancer-related mortality among females worldwide. This investigation sought to evaluate the distinctive expression patterns of genes linked to efferocytosis and invasion in breast cancer and their prognostic implications. Through bioinformatics anal...

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Main Authors: Jing Yang, Rong Zhang, Lamei Sun, Cong Wang, Ming Feng, Bin Su, Lixin Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-08-01
Series:Discover Oncology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-03346-w
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author Jing Yang
Rong Zhang
Lamei Sun
Cong Wang
Ming Feng
Bin Su
Lixin Jiang
author_facet Jing Yang
Rong Zhang
Lamei Sun
Cong Wang
Ming Feng
Bin Su
Lixin Jiang
author_sort Jing Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Breast cancer remains a primary source of cancer-related mortality among females worldwide. This investigation sought to evaluate the distinctive expression patterns of genes linked to efferocytosis and invasion in breast cancer and their prognostic implications. Through bioinformatics analyses, a robust prognostic risk modelwas developed. Breast cancer datasets were procured and processed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and GeneCards databases. Differential expression analysis was executed utilizing DESeq2, identifying genes with|logFC| >1 and p-value < 0.05. Efferocytosis-related genes and invasion-related genes were curated from GeneCards and PubMed, resulting in 127 overlapping genes. A prognostic risk model was developed utilizing univariate Cox regression, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. A sum of 7860 differentially expressed genes was ascertained in the TCGA-BRCA dataset, comprising 4130 elevated and 11,990 reduced expressions. Among them, 32 efferocytosis- and invasion-related genes exhibited differential expression, including ANO6 and PLGRKT. Univariate Cox regression pinpointed ANO6 and PLGRKT as significant prognostic markers. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression yielded the risk score formula: Risk score = ANO6 × (0.328) + PLGRKT × (-0.277). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested a notable difference in survival outcomes between high-risk and low-risk cohorts (p-value < 0.01). Multivariate Cox analysis confirmed risk score, age, NStage subgroups N1-N3, and TStage subgroup T4 as statistically significant prognostic predictors. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that ANO6 and PLGRKT were implicated in biological processes like bleb assembly and the positive regulation of phagocytosis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis identified notable pathway associations, encompassing the KEAP1/NFE2L2 Pathway and TP53 Regulation of Metabolic Genes. In conclusion, the developed prognostic risk model effectively predicts survival outcomes in patients with breast cancer, with ANO6 and PLGRKT being pivotal in tumor progression. These observations provide essential knowledge for therapeutic intervention strategies and enhanced clinical care in breast cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-b830d8794e904823bd96e7a7f2496b9e2025-08-24T11:36:13ZengSpringerDiscover Oncology2730-60112025-08-0116112510.1007/s12672-025-03346-wIntegrative analysis of efferocytosis- and invasion-related genes as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancerJing Yang0Rong Zhang1Lamei Sun2Cong Wang3Ming Feng4Bin Su5Lixin Jiang6Department of General Surgery, Jiangyin Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of General Surgery, Jiangyin Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangyin Nanzha Community Health Service CenterDepartment of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of General Surgery, Jiangyin Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of General Surgery, Jiangyin Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineAbstract Breast cancer remains a primary source of cancer-related mortality among females worldwide. This investigation sought to evaluate the distinctive expression patterns of genes linked to efferocytosis and invasion in breast cancer and their prognostic implications. Through bioinformatics analyses, a robust prognostic risk modelwas developed. Breast cancer datasets were procured and processed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and GeneCards databases. Differential expression analysis was executed utilizing DESeq2, identifying genes with|logFC| >1 and p-value < 0.05. Efferocytosis-related genes and invasion-related genes were curated from GeneCards and PubMed, resulting in 127 overlapping genes. A prognostic risk model was developed utilizing univariate Cox regression, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. A sum of 7860 differentially expressed genes was ascertained in the TCGA-BRCA dataset, comprising 4130 elevated and 11,990 reduced expressions. Among them, 32 efferocytosis- and invasion-related genes exhibited differential expression, including ANO6 and PLGRKT. Univariate Cox regression pinpointed ANO6 and PLGRKT as significant prognostic markers. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression yielded the risk score formula: Risk score = ANO6 × (0.328) + PLGRKT × (-0.277). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested a notable difference in survival outcomes between high-risk and low-risk cohorts (p-value < 0.01). Multivariate Cox analysis confirmed risk score, age, NStage subgroups N1-N3, and TStage subgroup T4 as statistically significant prognostic predictors. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that ANO6 and PLGRKT were implicated in biological processes like bleb assembly and the positive regulation of phagocytosis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis identified notable pathway associations, encompassing the KEAP1/NFE2L2 Pathway and TP53 Regulation of Metabolic Genes. In conclusion, the developed prognostic risk model effectively predicts survival outcomes in patients with breast cancer, with ANO6 and PLGRKT being pivotal in tumor progression. These observations provide essential knowledge for therapeutic intervention strategies and enhanced clinical care in breast cancer.https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-03346-wBreast cancerBioinformaticsEfferocytosisInvasionBiomarkerDifferentially expressed genes
spellingShingle Jing Yang
Rong Zhang
Lamei Sun
Cong Wang
Ming Feng
Bin Su
Lixin Jiang
Integrative analysis of efferocytosis- and invasion-related genes as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer
Discover Oncology
Breast cancer
Bioinformatics
Efferocytosis
Invasion
Biomarker
Differentially expressed genes
title Integrative analysis of efferocytosis- and invasion-related genes as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer
title_full Integrative analysis of efferocytosis- and invasion-related genes as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer
title_fullStr Integrative analysis of efferocytosis- and invasion-related genes as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer
title_full_unstemmed Integrative analysis of efferocytosis- and invasion-related genes as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer
title_short Integrative analysis of efferocytosis- and invasion-related genes as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer
title_sort integrative analysis of efferocytosis and invasion related genes as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer
topic Breast cancer
Bioinformatics
Efferocytosis
Invasion
Biomarker
Differentially expressed genes
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-025-03346-w
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