# Comparison Bioinformatic Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles-Related Genes and MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer

## TL;DR

This study uses bioinformatics to analyze genes and microRNAs related to extracellular vesicles in breast cancer, identifying potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific EV-related genes and microRNAs with significant expression patterns and survival correlations in breast cancer subtypes.

## Key findings

- CD36, DAB2, and CXCL14 were downregulated in breast cancer tissues, while TIMP1 was upregulated.
- Higher levels of TIMP1, DAB2, and CXCL14 were associated with improved overall survival in breast cancer patients.
- miR-222-3p was downregulated and positively correlated with TIMP1 and DAB2, while miR-181b-5p was upregulated and negatively correlated with CXCL14.

## Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women, with treatment challenges due to the lack of targeted therapies. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in BC progression by carrying bioactive molecules. This study analyzed EV-associated molecules (ENPEP, TIMP1, CD36, MARCKS, DAB2, CXCL14, miR-181b-5p, miR-222-3p) using bioinformatics tools. We used GEPIA2; Human Protein Atlas (HPA) 24.0; bc-GenExMiner v5.1; UALCAN 2022; Kaplan–Meier plotter 2025; ENCORI database v2.0; Enrichr-KG web tool 2021; Cancer Hallmark Enrichment tool 2025; Tumor, Normal, and Metastatic (TNM) plot database 2025; MicroRNA Target Prediction Database 6.0; TargetScan 8.0; and STRING database 12.0. CD36, DAB2, and CXCL14 were significantly downregulated, while TIMP1 was upregulated in BC tissues (p < 0.05). CD36, CXCL14, and DAB2 were predominantly low in triple-negative and basal-like subtypes, whereas TIMP1 was higher in HER2+, ER+, and PR+ tumors (p < 0.01). These changes correlated with promoter methylation patterns. Higher TIMP1, DAB2, and CXCL14 levels were associated with improved overall survival (p < 0.05). miR-222-3p was downregulated and positively correlated with TIMP1 and DAB2, while miR-181b-5p was upregulated and negatively correlated with CXCL14. TNM analysis confirmed these expression changes. Functional enrichment linked these molecules to key cancer hallmarks, including proliferation and angiogenesis. CD36, DAB2, CXCL14, TIMP1, miR-222-3p, and miR-181b-5p may serve as biomarkers for BC pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets. Further studies are needed to validate these findings.