Genetic variation perspective reveals potential drug targets for subtypes of endometrial cancer

Abstract

The study aims to identify potential drug targets for subtypes of endometrial cancer through a Mendelian randomization study and analyze their clinical value. Data from three quantitative trait loci and Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) Meta-analysis study explored potential drug targets in endometrial cancers (including endometrioid and non-endometrioid). Complementary analysis (including network analysis, therapeutic efficacy analysis, gene differential expression, and prognosis analysis) was investigated. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining and clinical pathological features were explored to validate potential clinical significance. Five drug targets for endometrial carcinomas, seven drug targets for endometrioid histology, and seven drug targets for non-endometrioid histology were identified, with IGF2R (OR = 1.165; 95% CI 1.067–1.272; p = 1.046 × 10− 2) and CST3 (OR = 0.523; 95% CI 0.339–0.804; p = 7.010×10− 3) demonstrating core therapeutic potential supported by causal evidence at the transcriptional, translational, and tissue-specific levels. Our research explored potential therapeutic targets associated with endometrial cancer and provided new ideas for biomarker screening and drug development.