Exploring Lung Cancer Protein Network: Understanding Structure and Function through Metric Space Modeling

Abstract

Lung cancer remains a significant health threat with high mortality rates. Using graph theory, we modeled the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network in lung cancer to explore its complex structure. This approach allows for the analysis of network properties and the identification of key proteins driving biological processes. Our analysis revealed RPS27A as a central protein
within the network, associated with diverse functions related to ribosome biogenesis, translation, cell growth, apoptosis, and cancer progression. This suggests that RPS27A may have multiple functions in cancer development and progression, including in MAPK signaling pathways. Importantly, our study uniquely identifies RPS27A as a central hub in lung cancer PPI networks, shedding light on its pivotal role in disease pathogenesis. Additionally, we identified a central network zone enriched with proteins involved in key signaling pathways, presenting novel insights into potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer treatment. Pathway enrichment analysis further highlighted functional specialization across network zones, providing a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between biological pathways in lung cancer progression. This study underscores the multifaceted roles of central proteins like RPS27A within lung cancer’s PPI network and the network’s potential for pinpointing therapeutic targets, presenting a novel perspective on the intricate network of molecular interactions driving lung cancer pathogenesis.