Reviewer’s report
Title: 
GEMIN4, a Potential Therapeutic Targets for Patients with Basal-like
Subtype Breast Cancer
Version: 
1 
Date: 
21 Apr 2023
Reviewer's report:
PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS: 
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses one
or several testable research questions? (Brief or other article types: is there a
clear objective?)
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols)
appropriate for the objective?
No - there are minor issues
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with sufficient
technical rigor to allow confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Not sure - I am not able to assess the statistics in this study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results
reasonable and not overstated?
No - there are minor issues
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Has the author addressed your
concerns sufficiently for you to now recommend the work as a technically sound
contribution? If not, can further revisions be made to make the work technically
sound?
Yes - current version is technically sound
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS: 
GENERAL COMMENTS: In this study, the researchers aimed to identify
molecules that can be used as diagnostic markers for Basal-like breast cancer
(BLBC) at an early stage and provide optimized treatment strategies. They used
the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium dataset,
which included 1,898 breast cancer patients, to identify differentially expressed
genes (DEGs) between BLBC and other subtypes and gene modules related to
BLBC. They then intersected the common genes with potential target genes
involved in relapse-free survival and overall survival of BLBC to identify
potential biomarkers. The authors identified nine highly expressed genes
associated with poor overall survival and five highly expressed genes associated
with poor relapse-free survival. GEMIN4 may be a potential target for the
treatment of BLBC. The authors have addressed the previous review comments.
The results are generally descriptive with limited functional validation. Several
well-established BLBC models could be used for functional confirmation. The
previous reviewers have also asked for in vivo validation, without which the
claims in this manuscript that GEMIN4 may be a potential target for the
treatment of BLBC are premature.
REQUESTED REVISIONS: 
The authors have provided detailed data analysis methods and are well executed.
However, these results are descriptive and need functional validation. The
manuscript lack in vivo studies to support their claims. They claim that GEMIN4
may be a potential target for treating BLBC. The authors should include
established BLBC models to support this. The statistical analysis methods
section needs more details. The methods section includes Cdell proliferation
detection twice. The transfection efficiency of GEMIN4 siRNA should be
included. There are several typos throughout the text.
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS: 
In vivo, validation must be included.
Declaration of competing interests
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
No
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
No
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
No
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes
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No