AIM: To explore the differentially expressed genes and crucial genes between epithelioid and mixed uveal melanoma(UM)based on bioinformatics analysis.

METHODS: Microarray datasets GSE22138 was extracted from gene expression omnibus database(GEO). The differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were screened out between epithelioid and mixed UM, and functional enrichment analysis were performed with DAVID database. STRING and cytoscape was applied to explore the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network and hub genes. Subsequently, cBioPortal was applied to explore the network of the hub genes, and GEPIA was adopted to study the survival analysis of hub genes.

RESULTS: Overall, 241 DEGs including 125 upregulated and 116 down regulated genes were identified. The DEGs mainly enriched in cell adhesion, response to drug and Positive regulation of endothelial cell proliferation. A total of 10 hub genes were identified. Survival analysis revealed the hub genes was associated with the prognosis of UM.

CONCLUSION: DEGs and hub genes identified by Bioinformatics analysis in the present study would be beneficial to understand mechanism and biological characteristics between epithelioid and mixed UM.