Background: This study intended to investigate the mechanisms underlying the
epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in
nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods:
Lung cancer tissue samples were collected from 20 patients with NSCLC (6 EGFR mutation types assigned into 2 categories and 14 EGFR wild types assigned to 4 categories). The samples were subjected to transcriptome sequencing, followed by identification of the differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs), differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), and differentially expressed
circRNAs (DECs) between the mutation and nonmutation groups. Function analysis and
microRNA (
miRNA) prediction for DEMs were performed. The correlations between
long noncoding RNA (
lncRNA)/
circular RNA (
circRNA) and
messenger RNA (
mRNA) were analyzed. In addition, the targeting
lncRNA and
circRNA of
miRNA were predicted. Finally,
competing endogenous RNA (
ceRNA) network was constructed, and survival analysis for the mRNAs involved in the network was performed. Results: In total, 323 DEMs, 284 DELs, and 224 DECs were identified between EGFR mutation and nonmutation groups. The DEMs were significantly involved in gene ontology functions related to cilium morphogenesis and assembly.
ceRNA networks were constructed based on the DEMs, DELs, DECs, and predicted
miRNAs. Survival analysis showed that four genes in the
ceRNA network, including ABCA3, ATL2,
VAMP1, and APLN, were significantly associated with prognosis. The four genes were involved in several
ceRNA pathways, including RP1-191J18/circ_000373/miR-520a-5p/ABCA3, RP5-1014D13/let-7i-5p/ATL2, circ_000373/miR-1293/
VAMP1, and RP1-191J18/circ_000373/miR-378a-5p/APLN. Conclusion: EGFR mutations in NSCLC may be associated with cilium dysfunction and complex
ceRNA regulatory mechanisms. The key RNAs in the
ceRNA network may be used as promising
biomarkers for predicting EGFR mutations in NSCLC.