Exploring Gastric Cancer-Related Genes and Clinical Significance Analysis Based on Bioinformatics

Objective: Employing bioinformatics methodologies to identify core genes intricately associated with the pathogenesis and progression of gastric cancer, and to evaluate their clinical significance. Method: Gene expression datasets GSE19826 and GSE13911 were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Differential gene expression analysis was conducted using GEO2R. Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were discerned via Venn diagram analysis on a bioinformatics platform. Functional enrichment analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), were performed on these overlapping DEGs. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed with the STRING database, and central hub genes were identified using Cytoscape software. The expression profiles, prognostic value, and immune infiltration correlations of these key genes were further examined utilizing the GEPIA, Kaplan-Meier plotter, Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and TIMER databases. Results: Analysis revealed 120 commonly differentially expressed genes. These genes were significantly enriched in biological pathways concerning muscle cell cytoskeleton regulation, nutrient absorption, and extracellular matrix receptor interactions. PPI network analysis highlighted 10 core genes, including COL1A1, COL1A2, BGN, THBS2, COL5A2, and TIMP1. These genes exhibited marked upregulation in GC tissues. Statistical evaluation confirmed a significant link between their elevated expression and unfavorable patient outcomes (P < 0.01). Furthermore, immune infiltration assessment indicated a positive correlation between the expression of these genes and macrophage infiltration within the tumor microenvironment, implying their involvement in modulating the immune response in GC, which could affect tumor behavior and clinical progression. Conclusion: The six genes identified may function as diagnostic biomarkers and represent promising therapeutic targets for gastric cancer.