2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Posters)-P2.20. Differential Expression of Genes in Type A and B3 Thymomas and Thymic Carcinomas

Pdf Summary

In this study, researchers aimed to identify differentially expressed genes in type A and B3 thymomas and thymic carcinomas, with the goal of aiding in the distinction between these subtypes of thymic epithelial tumors (TET). The study also aimed to gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis of these subtypes and identify genes that may be predictive of outcome or response to treatment.<br /><br />The researchers searched their institutional database of TET for type A and B3 thymomas and thymic carcinomas and classified them according to the 8th AJCC/UICC TNM staging system and WHO classification. RNA expression was profiled using the NanoString nCounter Tumor Signaling 360TM Panel, and various statistical methods were used to identify differentially expressed genes.<br /><br />The study population consisted of 64 patients, with a median age of 60.5 years. The results showed that there were significant differences in gene expression between type A and B3 thymomas, as well as between these subtypes and thymic carcinomas. Specific genes, such as CHEK2 and SETD2, were found to be significantly higher expressed in type A thymomas, while genes like JAK3 and CTLA4 were significantly higher expressed in thymic carcinomas.<br /><br />The study also identified potentially targetable genes that were specifically expressed in each subtype, such as PIK3CA and CD40 in type A thymoma, TRK and CD274 in type B3 thymoma, and KIT in thymic carcinoma. The researchers used t-SNE analysis to demonstrate that most type A thymomas and a majority of type B3 thymomas and thymic carcinomas clustered together based on their RNA expression.<br /><br />In conclusion, this study identified differentially expressed genes in type A and B3 thymomas and thymic carcinomas that could potentially aid in the distinction between these subtypes. The findings also highlight the clinically relevant gene expression differences in these tumors and suggest further analysis and validation of these results, as well as their correlation with clinical features and available target therapies.

Asset Subtitle

Anja Roden

Meta Tag

Speaker Anja Roden

Topic Thymic Malignancy

Keywords

differentially expressed genes

type A thymoma

type B3 thymoma

thymic carcinoma

TET

RNA expression

AJCC/UICC TNM staging system

CHEK2

JAK3

target therapies