Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40905375›Full record

ArticleBriefings in bioinformatics2025

Mapping cancer heterogeneity: a consensus network approach to subtypes and pathways.

Geng-Ming Hu, Hsin-Wei Chen, Chi-Ming Chen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Briefings in bioinformatics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Geng-Ming HuDepartment of Physics, National Taiwan Normal University, 88 Sec.4 Ting-Chou Rd., Taipei 116, Taiwan.
Hsin-Wei ChenDepartment of Physics, National Taiwan Normal University, 88 Sec.4 Ting-Chou Rd., Taipei 116, Taiwan.
Chi-Ming ChenDepartment of Physics, National Taiwan Normal University, 88 Sec.4 Ting-Chou Rd., Taipei 116, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0003-2202-2318

Funding

National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan NSTC 113-2221-E-003-015National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan NSTC 114-2221-E-003-019
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

We introduce consensus MSClustering, an unsupervised hierarchical network approach that integrates multi-omics data to identify molecular subtypes and conserved pathways across diverse cancers. Using a novel heterogeneity index, we selected 167 key genes with functionally coherent roles validated through Gene Ontology analysis. Applied to 2439 tumors spanning 10 cancer types-and successfully extended to 2675 tumors (12 types) including cases with incomplete molecular data-MSClustering demonstrated: (i) precise classification of major cancer types and breast cancer molecular subtypes; (ii) discovery of novel pan-cancer squamous metaplastic signatures; (iii) exceptional prognostic stratification (log-rank P = 2.3 × 10-46); and (iv) superior performance over existing methods (COCA/SNF) in classification accuracy, cluster robustness, and computational efficiency. The method's multi-scale architecture uniquely resolves breast cancer heterogeneity across biological resolution levels. Pathway analysis further revealed four key oncogenic programs-proteoglycan signaling, chromosomal stability, VEGF-mediated angiogenesis, and drug metabolism-along with disruptions in immune and digestive system functions. This integrative framework marks a significant advancement in cancer genomics by enabling more refined molecular classification, enhanced prognostic insights, and deeper understanding of disease mechanisms. These results highlight the potential of MSClustering to inform the development of clinically relevant biomarkers and support more personalized strategies in precision oncology.

Indexed as

Gene Regulatory NetworksGenetic HeterogeneityNeoplasmsBiomarkers, TumorBreast NeoplasmsCluster AnalysisComputational BiologyFemaleGene Expression ProfilingGenomicsHumansPrognosisSignal TransductionBiomarkers, Tumorconsensus clusteringcross-platform analysisenriched pathway networkheterogeneitykey genesunsupervised learning

Identifiers

PMID40905375
PMCPMC12409415

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.