Screening of Chemotherapy and Prognosis-related Genes in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on Bioinformatics

LIU Chenrui; TIAN Chang; YANG Fan; LONG Ben'an

doi:10.16458/j.cnki.1007-0893.2025.13.003

Abstract：Objective Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)originates from squamous epithelial lesions,and the treatment effect and prognosis of advanced patients are poor.To further improve the treatment effect of OSCC,this study investigated the potential molecular targets of OSCC carcinogenesis through the GEO and TCGA expression databases.Methods Gene expression database series(GSE)data sets related to OSCC were downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information(NCBI)Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.The"limma"software package was used to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs),and pathway analysis was performed on the DEGs.Key candidate genes were screened based on messenger ribonucleic acid(mRNA)expression data from the cancer genome atlas(TCGA)database.Random survival analysis,gene set variation analysis(GSVA),and drug sensitivity analysis were conducted on the candidate genes to evaluate the correlation between key genes and the prognosis and treatment resistance of OSCC.Results Through the GEO data set,a total of 7 key genes were obtained in OSCC tissues.Random survival analysis further screened out 3 prognosis-related genes:PITPNM3,ZYG11A,and TBC1D2.Low expression of PITPNM3 and ZYG11A was associated with poor survival and treatment resistance in patients,while low expression of TBC1D2 was associated with longer survival and increased drug sensitivity.Nomogram model analysis showed that the expression of PITPNM3,TBC1D2,and ZYG11A were independent risk factors for prognosis.Clinical sample detection showed significant differential expression of these three genes in cisplatin-resistant and cisplatin-sensitive groups(P<0.05).Conclusion This study identified 3 potential biomarkers in OSCC patients,and the expression of PITPNM3,TBC1D2,and ZYG11A was associated with prognosis and treatment resistance,and could be potential therapeutic targets in OSCC.