Introducing anxiety as a risk factor of gastric cancer.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the association between anxiety and gastric cancer via a bioinformatics approach.

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is a major health burden in the world and a threat to human health. Several risk factors, such as genetics, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, sex, age, race, unhealthy dietary habits and lifestyle, obesity, and alcohol consumption, are highlighted by researchers.

METHODS

Significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database related to gastric cancer were validated by the GeneCards database. The validated DEGs were compared with gastric cancer central genes from the "Disease" database to explore critical DEGs. The critical DEGs were searched in the anxiety-related genes from GeneCards to find the common genes between anxiety and gastric cancer. The common genes were evaluated via The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Kaplan-Meier Plotter analysis.

RESULTS

Among 658 significant DEGs, CHEK2, SLC2A1, EZH2, STAT1, and MMP9 were identified as gastric cancer-related critical genes common with the dysregulated genes in anxiety. Up-regulation of these genes was confirmed via GEO and TCGA analyses.

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that there is clear association between anxiety and gastric cancer. Anxiety shares dysregulated genes with gastric cancer It can be suggested that, there is a possible molecular link between them.