A comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of BRAF in cancer

Abstract

BRAF is one of the most vital serine/ threonine-protein kinase proto-oncogenes that performs a crucial role in cellular proliferation, growth, signaling and secretion. By deregulation of this gene can lead to terrible consequences including cancer. By utilizing the available dataset from Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) and the Cancer Genome Atlas database we found that BRAF is overexpressed among 12 cancers. Moreover, BRAF overexpression is common in the late stages of cancers. Thus, we can understand its complicity with cancer invasion and progression. Furthermore, the study divulges a set of cancer that has a short overall survival time (OS) and poor prognosis due to dysregulation of this gene. We found two specific cancers PRAD (Prostate adenocarcinoma) wherein BRAF is overexpressed and KIRC (Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma) that has BRAF lower expressed. Key nodes for both cancers generated by PPI networks and potential druggability for both concerns were shown. Considering this cancer as a new target and understanding the proper role of BRAF on them by further study can lead to new therapies for both cancers.