Bioinformatics analysis of the association between hsa-miR-101-3p–induced downregulation of PIEZO1 and poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma mediated by the focal adhesion pathway

Abstract Background In regard to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC), a common type of head and neck malignant tumor with high mortality, the role of Piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 (PIEZO1) is poorly understood. PIEZO1, a mechanosensitive ion channel, is implicated in tumorigenesis, but its expression, prognostic significance, and mechanisms in HNSC remain unclear. Our study aimed to clarify these aspects through in vitro experiments and bioinformatics analyses. Methods In order to investigate PIEZO1 expression in normal and cancerous tissues, we used The Cancer Genome Atlas data. Our bioinformatics analyses explored PIEZO1 mRNA expression, correlations, survival curves, upstream mRNA targets, and coexpressed genes. Gene Ontology analysis functionally annotated these coexpressed genes, and pathway enrichment studies further clarified their roles. In addition, we conducted in vitro experiments to examine and compare PIEZO1 expression in normal and cancerous human tissue samples. We performed immunohistochemical analyses to detect PIEZO1 expression in human HNSC tissues. Results Our results have revealed significantly elevated PIEZO1 expression in HNSC tissue samples compared with adjacent noncancerous tissues. Bioinformatics analysis further showed that PIEZO1 expression was notably higher in high-grade HNSC tumors and was associated with lower survival rates. OncomiR database analysis showed that the downregulation of hsa-miR-101-3p correlated with increased PIEZO1 expression in HNSC. Mechanistic studies identified 4 focal adhesion–related genes ( ITGA5 , LAMC2 , PXN , and VEGFC ) modulated by PIEZO1. These findings underscore the potential of PIEZO1 as a therapeutic target and prognostic marker for HNSC. Conclusions Our study has revealed the expression profile of PIEZO1 in HNSC, emphasizing its potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic target along with hsa-miR-101-3p.