Tmed2/9/10 Serves as a Biomarker for Poor Prognosis in Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma

Transmembrane emp24 structural domain (TMED) proteins are involved in protein transport and vesicle budding processes, which have been implicated in the progression of various malignancies. However, the roles of the TMED family in Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma (HNSC), especially in terms of development and prognosis, have not been fully elucidated. In this study, We analyzed the expression of the TMED family in HNSC patients compared with normal tissues using Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) 2.0 and UALCAN, and we combined Kaplan-Meier Plotter and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA 2) to select TMED2/9/10 with prognostic value. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that TMED2/9/10 and their co-expressed genes promoted the malignant behavior of tumors by participating in biological processes such as intracellular transferase complex, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen, protein transport, endocytosis, focal adhesion, and intracellular protein processing. Single-cell analysis against TMED2/9/10 suggested that immune responses of B cells and macrophages might be associated with prognosis. Transcription factors such as X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) and CREB3 were identified to be closely related to TMED2/9/10 and might be involved in the development of HNSC. Finally, the protein-protein function interaction (PPI) network showed us hub genes, including COPI coat complex subunit epsilon (COPE), suggesting that they worked with TMED2/9/10 to accelerate the progression of HNSC. In summary, TMED2/9/10 and related genes may jointly affect the prognosis of HNSC, providing specific clues for further experimental research, personalized diagnosis strategies and targeted clinical therapy for HNSC