Differentially Expressed Genes and Key Pathways in Triple Negative Breast Cancers: A Bioinformatics Analysis

Abstract Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is usually associated with poor outcome, and is characterized by lack of estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors and lack of overexpression of HER2. The aim of this study was to identify gene signatures during TNBCs and uncover their potential mechanisms.Methods: The gene expression profiles of GDS4069 were downloaded from GEO database. The GDS4069 dataset contained 19 samples, including 5 TNBCs, and 14 non-TNBCs (Control). The gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was constructed by Cytoscape software. The research was conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.Results: In total, 603 DEGs were identified in TNBCs, including 199 up-regulated genes and 403 down-regulated genes. GO analysis results showed that up-regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in biological processes (BP), including adaptive immune response, immunological synapse, positive regulation of GTPase, positive regulation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and positive regulation of T cell, et al.; the down-regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in biological processes, including cilium assembly, protein transport, intracellular transport, cilium morphogenesis, anterior/posterior pattern specification, and positive regulation of cilium assembly. KEGG pathway analysis showed the up-regulated DEGs were enriched in hematopoietic cell lineage signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction signaling pathway, and glycosphingolipid biosynthesis-globo series signaling pathway, while the down-regulated DEGs were enriched in peroxisome signaling pathway.Conclusions: The present study indicated that the identified DEGs and hub genes promote our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of TNBCs, and might be used as molecular targets and diagnostic biomarkers for the treatment of TNBCs.