A pan-cancer analysis of the HER family gene and their association with prognosis, tumor microenvironment, and therapeutic targets

Aims: The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family gene is involved in a wide range of biological functions in human cancers. Nevertheless, there is little research that comprehensively analysis the correlation between HER family members and prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME) in different cancers. Materials and methods: Based on updated public databases and integrated several bioinformatics analysis methods, we evaluated expression level, prognostic values of HER family gene and explore the association between expression of HER family gene and TME, Stemness score, immune subtype, drug sensitivity in pan-cancer. Key findings: EGFR, ERBB2, ERBB3, and ERBB4 were higher expressed in four cancers, five cancers, ten cancers, and two cancers, respectively. HER family gene expression is related to the prognosis in several cancers from TCGA and has a significant correlation with stromal and immune scores in pan-cancer also has a significant correlation with RNA stemness score and DNA stemness score in pan-cancer. Expression level of HER family gene is associated with immune subtype in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and kidney renal clear cell carcinoma. EGFR expression was negatively associated with drug sensitivity of Pipamperone, Tamoxifen, Bafetinib and positively related to drug sensitivity of Dasatinib and Staurosporine. ERBB2 expression was negatively related to drug sensitivity of Ifosfamide, Imexon, and Oxaliplatin. ERBB4 expression was positively related to drug sensitivity of E 7820. Significance: These findings may elucidate the roles played by HER family gene in cancer progression and providing insights for further investigation of the HER family gene as potential targets in pan-cancer.

Automated summary

The study comprehensively analyzed the expression of HER family genes in different cancers and their correlation with prognosis, tumor microenvironment, stemness characteristics, immune subtypes, and drug sensitivity. The findings revealed that HER family genes are upregulated in multiple cancers and closely associated with patient prognosis and immune features.