Background/aim: This study aimed to identify key molecules associated with the survival of patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HpSCC) by combining in silico and in vitro analyses.
Materials and methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using the Gene Expression Omnibus database. For DEGs, we performed functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction network analyses to identify potential biological functions and hub genes. Functional analysis of HpSCC cell lines verified the critical roles of the hub genes.
Results: DEGs were associated with the extracellular matrix. Among the hub genes, high expression of prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 1 (P4HA1) was significantly associated with shorter survival. In addition, P4HA1 knockdown inhibited cell migration and colonization. Suppression of cell proliferation was demonstrated using P4HA1-selective inhibitors.
Conclusion: P4HA1 may be a useful therapeutic target for the treatment of HpSCC.
Keywords: Prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 1; bioinformatic analysis; biomarker; extracellular matrix; hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
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