Aim: This study aimed to explore the genetic and epigenetic similarities between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Materials & methods: We mainly used Weighted correlation network analysis, protein-protein interaction network and pivot analysis to identify hub modules, bridge regulators, bridge genes and hub-driving genes in both diseases and carried out verifying using external datasets. Results: We identified eight bridge regulators, 19 key molecules in the COPD model and ten key molecules in the LUAD model. Moreover, we validated that CDC5L could be a reliable biomarker in COPD and may regulate cell proliferation and metastasis in LUAD via promoter methylation. Conclusion: Our results might form a theoretical foundation for future study at an epigenetic level.
Keywords: CDC5L; biomarker; cancer metastasis; cancer proliferation; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; epigenetics; lung adenocarcinoma; methylation; the Cancer Genome Atlas; transcription factors.