Revisiting the Genomic and Transcriptomic Landscapes from Female Malignancies Could Provide Molecular Markers and Targets for Precision Medicine

Arch Med Res. 2019 Oct;50(7):428-436. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2019.11.005. Epub 2019 Nov 26.

Abstract

Aims: Gynaecological malignancies such as breast, ovarian and cervical cancers have become an important public health problem. Detection of molecular alterations in cancer research is fundamental since it can reveal specific pathogenic patterns and genes that could serve as markers. Our aim was to characterize common genomic and transcriptomic signatures for the three gynaecologic malignancies with the highest incidence and mortality to try to identify new molecular markers, therapeutic targets and molecular signatures.

Methods: Here we analysed a total of 723 microarray libraries corresponding to equal number of breast, ovary and cervical cancer and non-cancer patient samples. Copy number variation (CNV) was carried out using 428 libraries and transcriptomic analysis using the 295 remaining samples.

Results: Our results showed that breast, ovary and cervical malignancies are characterized by gain of 1q chromosome. At transcriptomic level, they share 351 coding and non-coding genes, which could represent core transcriptome of gynaecological malignancies. Pathway analysis from the resulting gene lists from CNV and expression showed participation in cell cycle, metabolism, and cell adhesion molecules among others.

Conclusions: Chromosome 1q characterize the gynaecological malignancies, which could harbour a richness of genetic repertoire to mine for molecular markers and targets, particular gynaecologic expression profile, containing FANCI, FH and MIR155HG among others, could represent part of the transcriptomic core for diagnostic test and attractive therapeutic targets. It may not be long before every human cancer sample is profiled for a detections test to ascertain a molecular diagnosis and prognosis and to define an optimal and precise treatment strategy.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Cervical cancer; Genomics; Ovarian cancer; Transcriptomics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / economics*
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / genetics*
  • Genomics / methods*
  • Humans
  • Precision Medicine / methods*
  • Prognosis
  • Transcriptome / genetics*

Substances

  • Biomarkers