Comparative analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic expression between two non-small cell lung cancer subtypes

Abstract

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage and has poor survival. NSCLC subtypes require different treatment regimes, hence there are extensive efforts to find more precise and non-invasive differential diagnostics tools. Complementing these efforts, we examined two NSCLC subtypes for differences that may inform treatment options and identify potential novel therapeutic pathways. Here we present a comparative analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic expression in tumours from a cohort of 22 NSCLC patients: 8 squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), 14 adenocarcinoma (LUAD). We examined differential gene and differential protein expression between LUSC and LUAD, and between NSCLC subtypes and either PBMCs or normal adjacent lung tissue (NAT). We found that both NSCLC subtypes shared common differences in gene expression to PBMC relating to developmental and structural changes, and common protein expression differences to NAT relating to protein translation and RNA related processing and splicing. Between NSCLC subtypes we found differential gene expression relating to cell differentiation for LUSC and cellular structure and immune response regulation for LUAD. Differential protein expression between NSCLC subtypes related to extracellular structure for LUSC and metabolic processes, including glucose metabolism for LUAD. Many of our observations of differentially expressed genes and proteins between NSCLC subtypes support and inform existing observations, aiding both basic and clinical research seeking to identify subtype biomarkers or druggable targets.