Low-grade gliomas (LGG) constitute a heterogeneous group of neoplasms arising from the supporting glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Patients typically undergo radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical resection as part of the first-line therapy. However, the tumor cells associated with LGG often exhibit poor treatment outcomes due to frequent resistance. One of the main agents exhibiting high resistance is temozolomide. This study employs an integrated approach utilizing Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and network analysis, revealing 5 hub genes: CFAP126, TEKT1, TEKT2, C1orf194, and C9orf116, which are implicated in TMZ resistance. Survival analysis identifies three significant genes, including CFAP126, TEKT1, and TEKT2. Lower expression levels of TEKT1 and TEKT2 correlate with higher survival probabilities, while higher expression of CFAP126 is associated with improved overall survival. Enrichment analysis indicates that many of identified module genes are involved in cilia development and related processes, microtubule assembly and regulation in contributing to TMZ resistance in LGG. Although these pathways are associated, the exact mechanisms by which contributing genes cause TMZ resistance are still unclear. This study was entirely done in silico, and further laboratory investigations are warranted to validate the involvement of these genes in TMZ resistance. Nevertheless, these findings enhance our understanding of the processes leading to TMZ resistance in LGG, which may yield significant benefits for prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment.
Arshia Azmoudeh (Sun,) studied this question.