The role of tetraspanins pan-cancer

iScience, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.104777 · Published: August 19, 2022

Simple Explanation

Tetraspanins (TSPANs) are a class of four-transmembrane segmented proteins. The precise functions of TSPANs and their roles in pan-cancer are unclear. This study analyzed 24 TSPAN family genes in relation to tumor characteristics from 11,057 TCGA samples across 33 cancer types using multidimensional studies. The study found that genes were differentially expressed in 33 cancers, and several showed high consistency in tumor characteristics, with TSPAN15 and TSPAN1 warranting further attention.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

11,057 TCGA samples across 33 cancer types

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
TSPAN3-6, TSPAN9-11, TSPAN13-15, TSPAN17, TSPAN31, TSPAN33 are mainly upregulated, and TSPAN2, TSPAN7 are mainly downregulated.
2
High expression of TSPAN15 was significantly associated with better prognosis in SARC, TGCT, and with poorer prognosis in HNSC, LIHC, PAAD.
3
The expression of TSPAN1-10, TSPAN13-15, TSPAN17-19, TSPAN31, TSPAN32, TSPAN9-IT1 (p < 0.001) exist significant differences among six immune subtypes.

Research Summary

Tetraspanins (TSPANs) are a class of four-transmembrane segmented proteins. The precise functions of TSPANs and their roles in pan-cancer are unclear. In this work, we analyzed 24 TSPAN family genes in relation to tumor characteristics from 11,057 TCGA samples across 33 cancer types. Genes were differentially expressed in 33 cancers, and several of them showed high consistency in terms of tumor characteristics. In particular, the potential roles of TSPAN15 and TSPAN1 in cancer deserve further attention.

Practical Implications

Drug Development

Identification of TSPANs as potential drug targets. High expression of TSPAN15 elevates sensitivity to kahalalide f, and high expression of TSPAN1 elevates sensitivity to AZD-9291.

Prognostic Markers

TSPAN family genes could serve as prognostic markers for cancer. TSPAN15 expression correlates with TNM stages in BRCA and survival outcomes in SARC, TGCT, HNSC, LIHC, and PAAD.

Personalized Medicine

Matching TSPAN-targeted drugs to specific TSPAN-expressed tumors could improve treatment outcomes.

Study Limitations

1
Data obtained from publicly available sources may lack comprehensive clinicopathological parameters.
2
Data predominantly from Western countries may introduce ethnicity-related biases.
3
The study does not elucidate the mechanisms of TSPAN family genes.

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