Analysis of connection networks among miRNAs differentially expressed in early gastric cancer for disclosing some biological features of disease development

• The paired T-test is more suitable to paired case-control expression data.
• We identify 23 differential expression miRNAs related to early gastric cancer.
• We construct the disease and normal connection networks using 23 miRNAs.
• We disclose some new biological features based on the connection networks.

This paper first identified differentially expressed miRNAs associated with early gastric cancer and then respectively constructed relevant connection networks among the identified differentially expressed miRNAs that corresponded to early gastric cancer and control tissues. Twenty-three differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, 18 of which were different with the related results on the same data, and they provide great discriminatory power between patients and controls. There are not only conserved unchangeable sub-networks but also different sub-networks between the two connection networks. From the consistency and differences between two connection networks, we disclosed several new biological features that promote early gastric cancer development. This study shows 23 miRNAs that are early gastric cancer-specific and are worthy to do further experimental studies. The revealed biological features for early gastric cancer will provide new insights into improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms of this disease.