Identification of the hub genes RUNX2 and FN1 in gastric cancer

Background - This study identified key genes in gastric cancer (GC) based on the mRNA microarray GSE19826 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and preliminarily explored the relationships among the key genes. Methods - Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained using the GEO2R tool. The functions and pathway enrichment of the DEGs were analyzed using the Enrichr database. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) were established by STRING. A lentiviral vector was constructed to silence RUNX2 expression in MGC-803 cells. The expression levels of RUNX2 and FN1 were measured. The influences of RUNX2 and FN1 on overall survival (OS) were determined using the Kaplan-Meier plotter online tool. Results - In total, 69 upregulated and 65 downregulated genes were identified. Based on the PPI network of the DEGs, 20 genes were considered hub genes. RUNX2 silencing significantly downregulated the FN1 expression in MGC-803 cells. High expression of RUNX2 and low expression of FN1 were associated with long survival time in diffuse, poorly differentiated, and lymph nodepositive GC. Conclusion - High RUNX2 and FN1 expression were associated with poor OS in patients with GC. RUNX2 can negatively regulate the secretion of FN1, and both genes may serve as promising targets for GC treatment.