Objective:To search for the key genes influencing the resistance of rectal cancer to chemoradiotherapy based on the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA).Methods:The data were collected from gene expression omnibus. The whole genome expression data GSE119409 of patients receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy were obtained by gene expression ominibus. The weighted gene co-expression networks of pathological complete response group and non-pathological complete response group were constructed respectively. NetRep conservative evaluation method was used to comprehensively analyze the three key network attributes of gene connectivity, gene significance and module membership of each node in the network module, and to determine the key genes closely related to the sensitivity of rectal cancer to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Results:Network modules including black, blue, green, yellow and purple were obtained by WGCNA, and five key genes including SLC22A14, SIDT2, CABP4, EPHB6 and RAB11B were screened out.Conclusions:Five gene co-expression network modules and five key genes related to chemoradiotherapy resistance of rectal cancer were screened by weighted gene co-expression network analysis, which provided clues for finding molecular markers and potential therapeutic targets for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy resistance evaluation.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Scutellariae Radix combined with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors （EGFR-TKIs） on cell proliferation， apoptosis， cancer stem cell （CSC） marker expression， and metabolism in non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） cells. MethodsThe anti-tumor effects of Scutellariae Radix and EGFR-TKIs （gefitinib or osimertinib） in NSCLC cells were evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） and Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide （PI） double staining apoptosis assay. The activity of Scutellariae Radix and EGFR-TKIs in three-dimensional （3D） cultures of NSCLC cells was assessed using the CellTiter-Glo® 3D cell viability assay. The mRNA and protein expression levels of CSC markers， sex determining region y box protein 2 （SOX2） and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 （ALDH1A1）， were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. Changes in intracellular reactive oxygen species （ROS） levels were detected by ROS staining， and the redox ratio was detected by femtosecond laser labeling free imaging （FLI）. ResultsUnder both two-dimensional （2D） and 3D culture conditions， compared with the blank group and EGFR-TKI group， the combination group showed significantly reduced cell viability and increased apoptosis rate （P<0.05）. Compared with the EGFR-TKI group， the mRNA and protein levels of CSC markers were significantly downregulated in the combination group （P<0.05）. Additionally， the redox ratio was significantly elevated （P<0.05）， and ROS levels were also increased in the combination group compared with the EGFR-TKI group. ConclusionIn NSCLC cells， Scutellariae Radix enhances the redox ratio and increases ROS levels， thereby inhibiting the expression of CSC markers and strengthening the anti-tumor effects of EGFR-TKIs. This provides a novel molecular mechanism by which Scutellariae Radix may enhance the sensitivity of targeted therapies.