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Overexpression of salivary UBB and FN1 genes as potential biomarkers for the prognosis and diagnosis of co-occurrence in breast and lung cancers

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Abstract

Cancer is one of the world’s most deadly diseases with high economic implications. Early detection can increase the survival chance of the patient, but at present, it remains a challenge due to the non-specificity or absence of symptoms at the onset. The occurrence of multiple cancer types in a single individual is increasingly being reported especially among cancer survivors. This study examines the potential of salivary biomarkers in early detection of one or more cancer types. Four gene expression datasets of salivary biomarkers in pancreatic, lung, ovarian, and breast cancers (GSE53325, GSE29220, GSE32175, and GSE20266, respectively) were examined, and their differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined using GEO2R. The commonly occurring DEGs were determined using Venny and were functionally characterized using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). The study identified 159 commonly upregulated genes in breast and lung cancers, 29,453 commonly downregulated in “Lung” and “Ovarian” cancers, 1489 genes were commonly downregulated in breast and ovarian cancers, and 16,612 genes were commonly downregulated in lung, breast, and ovarian cancers, while only a gene was found to be commonly downregulated in lung and breast cancer. The protein–protein interactions network revealed two key genes (UBB and FN1) that are centrally linked to others in commonly upregulated breast and lung cancers. Therefore, the commonly DEGs could serve as potential biomarkers to the prognosis and diagnosis of the common occurrence of the different selected types of cancer. Also, UBB and FN1 are key biomarkers for the co-occurrence of breast and lung cancers.

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This study was not supported by any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria

    Elkanah Glen

  2. Crop Science Unit, Department of Agronomy, Federal University, Yobe State, Gashua, Nigeria

    Wadzani Palnam Dauda

  3. Department of Horticulture, Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin Kowa, Gombe, Nigeria

    Peter Abraham

  4. Department of Microbiology, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria

    Luka Ilu Mela

  5. Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Gregory University Uturu, Amaidi, Nigeria

    Obichi Obiajunwa

  6. UNESCO International Centre for Biotechnology, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Israel Ogra Ogwuche

  7. Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

    Grace Peter Wabba

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  1. Elkanah Glen
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  2. Wadzani Palnam Dauda
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Correspondence to Elkanah Glen.

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Glen, E., Dauda, W.P., Abraham, P. et al. Overexpression of salivary UBB and FN1 genes as potential biomarkers for the prognosis and diagnosis of co-occurrence in breast and lung cancers. Comp Clin Pathol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-025-03662-1

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