Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis identifies key genes in brain metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND Lung adenocarcinoma (LADC) is the most common type of lung cancer and is a subtype of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Approximately 40% of LADC patients experience brain metastases (BMs) during the course of the disease. In this study, integrated bioinformatics methods were applied to identify key genes related to brain metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS We derived and characterized genes differentially expressed between the primary tumour and brain metastases using tumour cells isolated from two lung cancer Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) cases (GSE 69405). Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were applied, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and Cytoscape software were utilized to identify key genes. RESULTS Four key genes including CKAP4 (Cytoskeleton Associated Protein 4), SERPINA1 (Serpin Family A Member 1), SDC2 (Syndecan 2) and GNG11 (G Protein Subunit Gamma 11) were identified for BM-LADC by the Venn diagram. CONCLUSION We believe these key genes may be potential biomarkers for improved prognosis and treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.