Gastric cancer (GC) is a major global health issue. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is considered a key factor that plays an important role in tumorigenesis and increases the risk of GC development. Here, we aimed to evaluate the differentially expressed genes in GC samples compared to normal tissue with known EBV status.

We applied bioinformatic approach to determine DEG across studied groups. We used microarray dataset (GSE51575) and investigated gene expression pattern in studied groups. We also performed network analysis and centrality measure to understand the broader functional relevance of recognized genes in cellular networks.

According to our findings, 6 hub genes were identified in EBV-positive GC, among them, GZMB, CCR5, and SELL were the most important ones. In contrast, the EBV-negative GC group exhibited a broader molecular footprint, with 16 hub genes identified through network analyses. Genes such as CXCL10, SPP1, and ICAM1 were more prominent here. When comparing all GC samples to normal tissues, 25 hub genes were identified, including CDK1, CCNB1, and CCNA2. Moreover, no typical differentially expressed genes were found when all EBV-positive samples were compared to all EBV-negative samples.

It can be concluded that both EBV-specific effects and its' interaction with the tumor microenvironment should be considered important for biological understanding and therapeutic targeting of GC.