Prognostic and diagnostic value of SPINK mRNAs expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on genome-wide analysis

Aim: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is a major contributor to the global cancer burden. The serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type (SPINK) gene family has been linked to various cancers. This study explores the prognostic value of SPINK genes in predicting overall survival (OS) in HNSC p...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chao Ma, Haoyu Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Open Exploration Publishing Inc. 2024-12-01
Series:Exploration of Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/em/Article/1001265
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846140583852113920
author Chao Ma
Haoyu Li
author_facet Chao Ma
Haoyu Li
author_sort Chao Ma
collection DOAJ
description Aim: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is a major contributor to the global cancer burden. The serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type (SPINK) gene family has been linked to various cancers. This study explores the prognostic value of SPINK genes in predicting overall survival (OS) in HNSC patients. Methods: We analyzed RNA sequencing and clinical data from 504 cancer and 44 non-cancer samples from the TCGA database. Differential expression and functional enrichment analyses gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (GO and KEGG) were performed using clusterProfiler. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were built with STRING and visualized. Immune infiltration was evaluated using single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA). Survival analysis utilized Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models. Results: Our results showed that SPINK5, SPINK7, SPINK8, SPINK9, and SPINK14 were significantly overexpressed in normal tissues compared to carcinoma tissues, whereas SPINK1, SPINK4, and SPINK6 showed higher expression in carcinoma tissues. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships among SPINK family members. GO and KEGG analyses highlighted their involvement in processes such as negative regulation of peptidase activity and serine-type endopeptidase inhibitor activity. PPI network analysis indicated close interactions between several SPINK proteins and other relevant proteins. Immune infiltration analysis showed that NK cells and Th2 cells were negatively correlated with SPINK genes, while mast cells and neutrophils were positively correlated. Survival analysis revealed that high mRNA expression levels of SPINK1, SPINK5, and SPINK6 were significantly associated with OS in HNSC patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that these genes have diagnostic value. We developed a nomogram model that combines tumor stage and SPINK gene expression providing a predictive tool for patient prognosis. Conclusions: This study elucidates the multifaceted roles of the SPINK gene family in HNSC. These findings offer valuable insights into their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
format Article
id doaj-art-d6fd40a905504a9fb770c7ea007413f4
institution Kabale University
issn 2692-3106
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Open Exploration Publishing Inc.
record_format Article
series Exploration of Medicine
spelling doaj-art-d6fd40a905504a9fb770c7ea007413f42024-12-05T07:53:17ZengOpen Exploration Publishing Inc.Exploration of Medicine2692-31062024-12-015691292510.37349/emed.2024.00265Prognostic and diagnostic value of SPINK mRNAs expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on genome-wide analysisChao Ma0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1336-7998Haoyu Li1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9826-181XDepartment of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Ophthalmology, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, ChinaAim: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is a major contributor to the global cancer burden. The serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type (SPINK) gene family has been linked to various cancers. This study explores the prognostic value of SPINK genes in predicting overall survival (OS) in HNSC patients. Methods: We analyzed RNA sequencing and clinical data from 504 cancer and 44 non-cancer samples from the TCGA database. Differential expression and functional enrichment analyses gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (GO and KEGG) were performed using clusterProfiler. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were built with STRING and visualized. Immune infiltration was evaluated using single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA). Survival analysis utilized Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models. Results: Our results showed that SPINK5, SPINK7, SPINK8, SPINK9, and SPINK14 were significantly overexpressed in normal tissues compared to carcinoma tissues, whereas SPINK1, SPINK4, and SPINK6 showed higher expression in carcinoma tissues. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships among SPINK family members. GO and KEGG analyses highlighted their involvement in processes such as negative regulation of peptidase activity and serine-type endopeptidase inhibitor activity. PPI network analysis indicated close interactions between several SPINK proteins and other relevant proteins. Immune infiltration analysis showed that NK cells and Th2 cells were negatively correlated with SPINK genes, while mast cells and neutrophils were positively correlated. Survival analysis revealed that high mRNA expression levels of SPINK1, SPINK5, and SPINK6 were significantly associated with OS in HNSC patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that these genes have diagnostic value. We developed a nomogram model that combines tumor stage and SPINK gene expression providing a predictive tool for patient prognosis. Conclusions: This study elucidates the multifaceted roles of the SPINK gene family in HNSC. These findings offer valuable insights into their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/em/Article/1001265biomarkersdiagnosisgenome-wide association studyhead and neck squamous cell carcinoma
spellingShingle Chao Ma
Haoyu Li
Prognostic and diagnostic value of SPINK mRNAs expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on genome-wide analysis
Exploration of Medicine
biomarkers
diagnosis
genome-wide association study
head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
title Prognostic and diagnostic value of SPINK mRNAs expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on genome-wide analysis
title_full Prognostic and diagnostic value of SPINK mRNAs expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on genome-wide analysis
title_fullStr Prognostic and diagnostic value of SPINK mRNAs expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on genome-wide analysis
title_full_unstemmed Prognostic and diagnostic value of SPINK mRNAs expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on genome-wide analysis
title_short Prognostic and diagnostic value of SPINK mRNAs expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on genome-wide analysis
title_sort prognostic and diagnostic value of spink mrnas expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on genome wide analysis
topic biomarkers
diagnosis
genome-wide association study
head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
url https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/em/Article/1001265
work_keys_str_mv AT chaoma prognosticanddiagnosticvalueofspinkmrnasexpressioninheadandnecksquamouscellcarcinomabasedongenomewideanalysis
AT haoyuli prognosticanddiagnosticvalueofspinkmrnasexpressioninheadandnecksquamouscellcarcinomabasedongenomewideanalysis