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Downregulated ECRG4 is correlated with lymph node metastasis and predicts poor outcome for nasopharyngeal carcinoma
1Oncological Research Lab, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Objective:
Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) is a new candidate tumor suppressor gene. In this retrospective study, we evaluated ECRG4 protein expression in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) under curative treatment and examined its association with pathological features and clinical outcomes as a possible biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of NPC.
Methods:
We enrolled 122 patients with a first diagnosis between January 2001 and December 2003. Tumor tissue and control tissue from biopsies underwent immunohistochemical staining for ECRG4. ECRG4 expression was analyzed by clinicopathological variables. After Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, we used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the predictive effect of ECRG4 expression on overall survival.
Results:
ECRG4 protein level was lower in NPC than control tissue (P < 0.01). It was inversely related to node status (P < 0.001) and clinical stage (P = 0.027). ECRG4 expression was associated with overall survival, and downregulated ECRG4 expression was an independent prognostic factor of poor survival (hazard ratio = 0.677, 95 % confidence interval 0.463-0.989, P = 0.044).
Conclusions:
A significant NPC patients showed downregulated ECRG4 expression, which is correlated with lymph node metastasis. The marker could be an independent prognostic factor for NPC patients. The precise function of ECRG4 in the progression of NPC, especially for lymphatic metastasis, deserves further investigation, which would bring a new target for personalized therapy.
Insights
Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) protein is downregulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and linked to lymph node metastasis. Lower ECRG4 expression independently predicts poor survival in NPC patients, suggesting its potential as a prognostic biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) is identified as a potential tumor suppressor gene.
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a significant head and neck cancer with varying clinical outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate ECRG4 protein expression in NPC patients.
- To investigate the association between ECRG4 expression, clinicopathological features, and patient survival.
- To assess ECRG4 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for NPC.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 122 NPC patients diagnosed between 2001 and 2003.
- Immunohistochemical staining of tumor and control tissues for ECRG4 protein expression.
- Statistical analysis including Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression.
Main Results:
- ECRG4 protein levels were significantly lower in NPC tissues compared to control tissues (P < 0.01).
- Reduced ECRG4 expression correlated inversely with lymph node status (P < 0.001) and clinical stage (P = 0.027).
- Downregulated ECRG4 expression was an independent predictor of poor overall survival (HR = 0.677, P = 0.044).
Conclusions:
- Downregulated ECRG4 expression is a common finding in NPC and is associated with lymph node metastasis.
- ECRG4 serves as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in NPC patients.
- Further research into ECRG4's role in NPC progression, particularly lymphatic metastasis, is warranted for potential targeted therapies.
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