Regulatory role of SLC3A2 in Ferroptosis and its impact on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A bioinformatics study

Abstract

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is a complex malignancy distinguished by poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Emerging evidence suggests that ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death Persistent by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, is a cornerstone in cancer biology. This exploration focuses on SLC3A2, a gene implicated in amino acid transport, as a potential regulator of ferroptosis in HNSCC. A bioinformatics approach was employed to investigate the role of SLC3A2 in HNSCC. Pan-cancer analysis was conducted using TIMER 2.0 to assess SLC3A2 expression across various cancer types. Prognostic gene expression analysis comparing normal and primary tumor tissues was performed using the UALCAN database. Genetic mutation analysis of SLC3A2 was examined in HNSCC patients. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were erected using the STRING database and visualized with Cytoscape software. Functional annotation and pathway analysis were conducted using the KEGG database to elucidate the biological pathways linked with SLC3A2. SLC3A2 was determined to be markedly overexpressed in HNSCC compared to other cancer types. High SLC3A2 expression correlated with poor overall survival in HNSCC patients, indicating its potential as a prognostic biomarker. Mutation analysis revealed frequent genetic alterations in SLC3A2 in HNSCC. PPI network analysis identified key interacting proteins, highlighting SLC3A2central role in the network. Functional annotation and KEGG pathway analysis implicated SLC3A2 in ferroptosis regulation and other critical cancer-related pathways. Our bioinformatics analysis suggests that SLC3A2 is a key regulator of ferroptosis in HNSCC, with significant implications for prognosis and therapeutic targeting.