Identification of key genes related to macrophage infiltration in gastric cancer based on WGCNA

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is rampant around the world. Most of the GC cases are detected in advanced stages with poor prognosis. The identification of marker genes for early diagnosis is of great significance. Studying the tumor environment is helpful to acknowledge the process of tumorigenesis, development, and metastasis.Methods: In GEO, 22 kinds of immune cell infiltration were calculated by CIBERSORT. Macrophages were discovered remarkably infiltrated higher in GC compared with normal tissues. WGCNA was utilized to construct the network and then identify key modules and genes related to macrophages in TCGA.Results: Finally, 18 hub genes were verified. In the PPI bar chart, the top 3 genes were chosen as hub genes involved in most pathways. On the TIMER and THPA websites, it is verified that the expression levels of CYBB, CD86 and C3AR1 genes in tumor tissues were higher than those in normal tissues.Conclusion: These genes may work as biomarkers or targets for accurate diagnosis and treatment of GC in the future. Our findings may be a new strategy for the treatment of GC.