Characterizing the Extent of Genetic Aberrations in Glioblastoma Multiforme using Bioinformatics Tools

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are considered the most common type of brain cancer. They are known for their high mortality and morbidity. Advances in genetics and molecular understanding of GBM can explain the failure of many targeted therapies. As a result of this, the World Health Organization (WHO) have updated the classification to provide more accurate diagnosis and treatment. As a result of this WHO classification, GBM emerged to be a group of complex disease with several mutations and different manifestations. Thus, it is important to study the nature of each tumor to apply the right therapy for it. For this reason, bioinformatics is becoming a fundamental pillar in the field of cancer biology. Bioinformatics yields and generates massive data that, through the right tools, can be analyzed, interpreted and then transferred to be applied to cancer therapeutics. Many tools are available online. In this study, cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics (http://cbioportal.org) has been used. This platform is a web resource for studying, viewing, and interpreting cancer data. The data collected from cBioPortal were analyzed using Cytoscape, which generated a network showing the mutual exclusivity of the genes of interest. In addition to this, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were studied using Ensembl and MutationTaster to predict their oncogenicity. All of this provide a general overview of how the study of genetic aberrations in GBM can be accessible through bioinformatics tools. It emphasizes on the importance of such tools coupled with precises analysis to determine the best therapy for cancer. In this paper, genes related to GBM are highlighted and analyzed using cBioPortal, Cytoscape, and MutationTaster. The results highlight the importance for knowing the oncogenic nature of mutations which helps in targeted therapy. In addition to this, a comparison between Lebanese GBM patient samples and cBioPortal samples. This aims to give new understanding of the pathways altered in GBM, methods of therapy, chemoresistance, and autophagy.