Exploring the Molecular Determinants of Tumor-Stroma Interaction in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Through the Utilization of RNA-seq Data from Lung Biopsies

摘要

Lung cancer is responsible for most fatalities amongst cancers worldwide. Within the frames of the Metaboli-Ca project, in order to gain deeper insight regarding the molecular crosstalk taking place between the tumor cells and the surrounding stroma, we analyze with the help of next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, specimens from lung section biopsies derived from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Specifically, we exploit RNA sequencing data for the derivation of differentially expressed genes in cancer cells compared to the adjacent tumor associated stroma and perform functional analysis to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in tumor progression and cancer cell survival. We advanced a pipeline for quantitative analysis, using various state-of-the-art tools, and combined different statistical methodologies to investigate the outcomes from a broader point of view. On the basis of the results of this analysis we see a clear effect on signaling and repair mechanisms, allowing the referred development of cancer and tumor cell sustainability.