Detection and analysis of stable and flexible genes towards a genome signature framework in cancer.

Comparison and detection of stable cancer genes across cancer types is of interest. The gene expression data of 6 different cancer types(colon, breast, lung, ovarian, brain and renal) and a control group from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were used in this study. The calculation of standard deviation for comparison of gene expression data was completed using a statistical model for the detection of stable genes. Genes having similar expression (referred as stable genes) pattern to the control group in four out of six cancer types are PATE, NEUROD4 and TRAFD1. Moreover, genes with low (GDF2, KCNT1 and RNF151) and high (ODF4, OR5I1, MYOG and OR2B11) difference in gene expression (referred as flexible genes) with the control group across cancer types are also observed. Thus, the detection and analysis of stable and flexible cancer genes help towards the design and development of a framework (outline) for specific genome signature (biomarker) in cancer.