Comparative Analysis of Digital Transcriptomics Between Pre- and Post-Treatment Samples of Patients with Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide, with limited treatment options for advanced stages and therapy-resistant cases. Despite advances in treatment, the variability in the patient response to standard therapies underscores the need for molecular biomarkers to guide personalized treatment strategies. This study aimed to explore the transcriptomic changes associated with the therapeutic response in locally advanced cervical cancer, focusing on 770 immune-related genes. We employed a digital multiplexed gene expression analysis, comparing gene expression profiles between matching pre- and post-treatment samples. The results revealed the significant upregulation of C7 and EGR2 in the post-treatment samples, suggesting that enhanced immune activity is a key factor in therapeutic success. Conversely, IL17RB, S100A7, and SAA1 were upregulated in the pre-treatment samples, potentially indicating resistance mechanisms. Pathway enrichment analysis highlighted that the immune response and apoptosis pathways are crucial to post-treatment changes. These findings suggest that C7, EGR2, and IL17RB may serve as biomarkers for predicting therapeutic outcomes and could inform the development of more effective, individualized treatment strategies for cervical cancer. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying treatment response and resistance.

Keywords

• cervical cancer
• digital expression analysis
• therapy resistance
• precision oncology