HLF is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on Bioinformatic Analysis and Experimental Validation

Abstract

BackgroundHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide, with an increasing incidence. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of HNSCC are poorly understood.MethodIn this work, 5 original datasets (GSE23558, GSE13601, GSE30784, GSE9844, GSE78060) of Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) were selected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HNSCC and adjacent tissues. The common DEGs were acquired by Venn diagram. The sensitivity and specificity of HLF were determined by Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC). Then, In order to further confirm the relationship between HLF and HNSCC patient’s prognosis, the expression and survival analysis of HLF was performed by Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), Cell culture, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blotting and immunohistochemical staining.ResultsSeventeen DEGs were screened from five sets of HNSCC functional gene expression series in GEO datasets. The low expression of HLF was indicated might be correlated with poor prognosis of HNSCC patients based on the bioinformatics analysis. According to the results of Cell culture, RT-PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemical staining, it was confirmed that the low level of HLF expression correlated with poor prognosis of HNSCC patients.ConclusionThe study effectively revealed useful information about the relationship of the low level of HLF expression and HNSCC. In summary, we identified HLF as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HNSCC.