Mechanism of glycitein in the treatment of colon cancer based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of colon cancer remains high across the world. The early diagnosis of colon cancer is challenging. Moreover, patients with colon cancer frequently suffer from poor prognoses. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in colon cancer were acquired based on TCGA-COAD dataset screening. DEGs were input into the Connectivity Map (CMap) database to screen small molecule compounds with the potential to reverse colon cancer pathological function. Glycitein ranked first among the screened small molecule compounds. We downloaded the main targets of glycitein from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform database and constructed protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of those which were closely related to targets by Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interaction Gene/Proteins (STRING). Five potential targets of glycitein for treating colon cancer were identified (CCNA2, ESR1, ESR2, MAPK14, and PTGS2). These targets were used as seeds for random walk with restart (RWR) analysis of PPI networks. Then, the interaction network of glycitein-colon cancer-related genes was constructed based on the top 50 genes in affinity coefficients. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted on the potential genes targeted by glycitein in colon cancer treatment and those were closely bound up with targets. Results: GO analysis demonstrated that the enrichment of these genes was primarily discovered in biological functions including regulation of fibroblast proliferation, response to oxygen levels, and epithelial cell proliferation. KEGG analysis results illustrated that the signaling pathways where these genes were mostly involved consisted of the mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway, the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-Akt signaling pathway, and the p53 signaling pathway. Finally, stable binding of glycitein to five potential targets in colon cancer was verified by molecular docking. Conclusion: This study elucidated the key targets and main pathways of glycitein on the basis of network pharmacology and preliminarily analyzed molecular mechanisms in the treatment of colon cancer. A scientific basis is provided for glycitein application in treating colon cancer.