Functional network analysis of Hodgkin Lymphoma identifies critical regulatory nodes in cancer-associated pathway

Abstract

Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) is a haematological malignancy characterized by the abnormal proliferation of malignant B lymphocytes within an inflammatory microenvironment. Despite advances in therapeutic strategies, a subset of patients continues to experience relapse or treatment resistance, highlighting the need for improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying HL progression. This study aimed to identify key regulatory genes and molecular pathways involved in Hodgkin Lymphoma using an integrative bioinformatics approach. Gene datasets associated with HL were retrieved from GeneCards and the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). Overlapping genes were identified and subjected to functional enrichment analysis using DAVID. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database to identify highly connected hub genes within the HL molecular interaction network. A total of 3,180 overlapping genes associated with HL were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that 295 genes were significantly involved in cancer-related signaling pathways. Network analysis prioritized five highly connected hub genes: TP53, STAT3, AKT1, EGFR, and IL6, which are associated with key biological processes including apoptosis regulation, immune signaling, and cellular proliferation. This integrative network-based analysis highlights central regulatory genes involved in HL-associated molecular pathways. These findings provide systems-level insight into the molecular architecture of Hodgkin Lymphoma and identify candidate genes that warrant further experimental investigation.