Differential Gene Expression Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Sequencing Data from Male Patients with and without Lymph Node Metastasis in Tongue Cancer

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Gene expression plays a crucial role in progression, invasion, and metastasis in many groups of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Based on extensive patient data, no research has been done so far on the differences in gene expression between groups of male patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma who drink alcohol and those who do not, about lymph node metastasis. Our study analysed differential gene expression in male patients with and without lymph node metastasis in tongue cancer, utilising messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) program. Analysis was performed using R and bioinformatics tools to process mRNA sequencing data, compare differential gene expression, and examine functional signaling pathways and survival analysis. After screening the database, 38 out of 74 cases with metastasis were selected for the analysis. The computational analysis identified a significant increase in cancer invasion transcription factors, such as GATA2, SP1 and MYC in the metastatic group, whereas CREB1 was more associated with the nonmetastatic group. Functional analysis suggested new prognostic biomarkers for unfavourable outcomes (TRIML2 and EXOSC4) and favourable outcomes (HS3ST4 and SFTPA1). New suggested markers for oral and tongue cancer such as TRIML2, EXOSC4 are known for their role in non-oral cancer including lung and liver cancer. Especially head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) survival analysis and protein atlas investigation confirmed the indirect biological roles of found markers. The study indicates that TRIML2 and EXOSC4 could serve as biological markers for predicting lymph node metastasis in tongue squamous cell carcinoma among male patients who consume alcohol. These findings suggest that gene expression profiles may play a role in the progression and metastasis of tongue cancer. Further research is needed to validate these results and to develop targeted therapies for patients with tongue cancer.