Analyzing high throughput sequencing data for gene expression profiles in Thyroid Carcinoma to predict effective therapeutic targets

Abstract

The most common endocrine tumor is thyroid carcinoma (TC). The clinical significance of thyroid carcinoma with respect to the recurrence of the disease state has been reviewed recently. Current therapy includes surgery (thyroidectomy) and radiotherapy that are not affordable and may indicate the risk of relapse. Although there are drugs available in the market; however, side-effects and drug-resistance limit their full potential to be used. Since the expression analysis identifies important cellular processes or metabolic pathways which are important during the phase of infection. Therefore, identifying effective therapeutic targets through microarray and high throughput sequencing technology might serve a purpose in the treatment of the thyroid carcinoma in its early stages. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, Microarray and RNA-seq data analysis have been performed. We analyzed different datasets of thyroid carcinoma induced in order to find similarities and differences between expression profiles. After identification of expression level of mRNAs and miRNAs, targets of miRNAs are also predicted. The data analysis has revealed 36 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for thyroid carcinoma. Out of these genes, only (Zinc finger and BTB domain containing protein 44) ZBTB44 is not considered a prognostic therapeutic target for thyroid cancer but for other carcinomas patients in literature, which needs further investigation to overcome the disease. While remaining differentially expressed genes are also validated through literature review. Pathway analysis is then performed on the all DEGs that shows their involvement in following pathways; Proteoglycans in cancer, Transcriptional misregulation in cancer, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, WNT signalling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway. This study can provide the basis for further validation through systems biology approach and wet lab techniques.