Integrated analysis of multiple gene expression profiling datasets revealed novel gene signatures and molecular markers in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

PURPOSE To identify the novel gene signatures and molecular markers of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by integrated bioinformatics analysis of multiple gene expression profiling datasets. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Seven published gene expression profiling studies and one of our unpublished works were reanalyzed to identify the common significantly dysregulated (CSD) genes in NPC. Overrepresentation analysis of cytogenetic bands, Gene Ontology (GO) categories, pathways were used to explore CSD genes functionally associated with carcinogenesis. The protein expressions of selected CSD genes were examined by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays, and the correlations of their expressions with clinical outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS Using the criteria (genes reported deregulated in more than one study), a total of 962 genes were identified as the CSD genes in NPC. Four upregulated (BUB1B, CCND2, CENPF, and MAD2L1) and two downregulated (LTF and SLPI) genes were markedly reported in six studies. The enrichments of chromosome aberrations were 2q23, 2q31, 7p15, 12q15, 12q22, 18q11, and 18q12 in upregulated genes and 14q32 and 16q13 in downregulated genes. The activated GO categories and pathways related to proliferation, adhesion, invasion, and downregulated immune response had been functionally associated with NPC. SLPI significantly downregulated in nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, the high expression of BUB1B or CENPF was associated with poor overall survival of patients. CONCLUSION It was first clearly identified the dysregulated expression of BUB1B and SLPI in NPC tissues. IMPACT Further studies of the CSD genes as gene signatures and molecular markers of NPC might improve the understanding of the disease and identify new therapeutic targets.