AUTHOR=Yin Yongkui , Yang Xiaojie , Cheng Zhengyi , Wang Hui , Lei Jun , Wang Dan , Wang Peiwen , Li Biao , Mi Jing , Yuan Qi 

TITLE=Identification of extracellular matrix-related biomarkers in colon adenocarcinoma by bioinformatics and experimental validation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1371584

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2024.1371584

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Backgrounds</title><p>Extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important component of tumor microenvironment, and its abnormal expression promotes tumor formation, progression and metastasis.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify ECM-related hub genes based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) data. COAD clinical samples were used to verify the expression of potential biomarkers in tumor tissues, and siRNA was used to explore the role of potential biomarkers in cell proliferation and epithelial−mesenchymal transition (EMT).</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Three potential biomarkers (<italic>LEP</italic>, <italic>NGF</italic> and <italic>PCOLCE2</italic>) related to prognosis of COAD patients were identified and used to construct ERGPI. Immunohistochemical analysis of clinical samples showed that the three potential biomarkers were highly expressed in tumor tissues of COAD patients. Knockdown of <italic>LEP</italic>, <italic>NGF</italic> or <italic>PCOLCE2</italic> inhibited COAD cell proliferation and EMT. Dictamnine inhibited tumor cell growth by binding to these three potential biomarkers based on molecular docking and transplanted tumor model.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>The three biomarkers can provide new ideas for the diagnosis and targeted therapy of COAD patients.</p></sec>