Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Glioblastoma is the most malignant brain tumor, and despite advances in treatment, survival rates are still dismal. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of glioblastoma is needed. This study suggests potential therapeutic targets in glioblastoma that may provide new therapeutic insights. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To identify hub genes in glioblastoma, three datasets were selected from the GEO database. After screening DEGs using GEO2R, GO and KEGG analyses were performed using DAVID. The PPI network was visualized using Cytoscape and 7 hub genes were extracted. The prognostic potential of 7 hub genes was investigated using the Gliovis and GEPIA2 databases. RESULTS: In total, 176 up-regulated and 263 down-regulated genes were identified. From the PPI network, 7 hub genes were identified including CAMK2A, DLG4, SNAP25, SYT1, MYC, FN1, and VEGFA. Out of the 7 hub genes identified, FN1 and VEGFA have been associated with a poor prognosis in glioblastoma based on the survival analysis. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that high levels of FN1 and VEGFA expression are associated with a poor prognosis in glioblastoma and that both genes are promising targets for glioblastoma therapy. Bioinformatics analysis of DEGs revealed putative targets that might reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying glioblastoma.