en Bioinformatic Bioinformatic Original Article Original Article <p>Pathogenesis of odontogenic tumors is not well known. It is important to identify genetic deregulations and molecular alterations. This study aimed to investigate, through bioinformatic analysis, the possible genes involved in the pathogenesis of ameloblastoma (AM) and keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT). Genes involved in the pathogenesis of AM and KCOT were identified in GeneCards. Gene list was expanded, and the gene interactions network was mapped using the STRING software. &ldquo;Weighted number of links&rdquo; (WNL) was calculated to identify &ldquo;leader genes&rdquo; (highest WNL). Genes were ranked by K-means method and Kruskal-Wallis test was used (P<0.001). Total interactions score (TIS) was also calculated using all interaction data generated by the STRING database, in order to achieve global connectivity for each gene. The topological and ontological analyses were performed using Cytoscape software and BinGO plugin. Literature review data was used to corroborate the bioinformatics data. <em>CDK1</em> was identified as leader gene for AM. In KCOT group, results show <em>PCNA</em> and <em>TP53</em>. Both tumors exhibit a power law behavior. Our topological analysis suggested leader genes possibly important in the pathogenesis of AM and KCOT, by clustering coefficient calculated for both odontogenic tumors (0.028 for AM, zero for KCOT). The results obtained in the scatter diagram suggest an important relationship of these genes with the molecular processes involved in AM and KCOT. Ontological analysis for both AM and KCOT demonstrated different mechanisms. Bioinformatics analyzes were confirmed through literature review. These results may suggest the involvement of promising genes for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of AM and KCOT.</p> Ameloblastoma, keratocystic odontogenic tumor, Cell proliferation, Apoptosis, Leader genes 199 219 http://ijmcmed.org/browse.php?a_code=A-10-931-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Eliane Macedo Sobrinho Santos elianemsobrinho@hotmail.com 10031947532846008387 10031947532846008387 No Department of Dentistry, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Hércules Otacílio Santos htacilio@hotmail.com 10031947532846008388 10031947532846008388 No Instituto Federal do Norte de Minas Gerais-Campus Salinas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Ivoneth dos Santos Dias nethdias@hotmail.com 10031947532846008389 10031947532846008389 No Department of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sérgio Henrique Santos sergiosousas@hotmail.com 10031947532846008390 10031947532846008390 No Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil. Alfredo Maurício Batista de Paula ambpatologi@gmail.com 10031947532846008391 10031947532846008391 No Department of Dentistry, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. John David Feltenberger notch876@gmail.com 10031947532846008392 10031947532846008392 No Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock, TX, USA. André Luiz Sena Guimarães andreluizguimaraes@gmail.com 10031947532846008393 10031947532846008393 No Department of Dentistry, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Lucyana Conceição Farias lucyanacfarias@gmail.com 10031947532846008394 10031947532846008394 Yes Department of Dentistry, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.