Abstract
BackgroundDesmoglein2 (DSG2) is a transmembrane protein that helps regulate intercellular connections and contributes to desmosome assembly. Desmosome are associated with cell adhesion junctions, which play an important role in cancer progression specially cancer cell migration and invasion. However, DSG2 expression in colon cancer (CC) and its association with CC patients’ overall survival (OS) are still unclear.MethodsWe collected 587 CC samples, 41 colitis tissues and 114 pericarcinomatous tissues, as well as corresponding clinicopathological data about the patients who contributed them. All samples were tested immunohistochemically in tissue microarrays. Kaplan–Meier method was used for calculating patient survival. Univariate and multivariate analyses was used for investigating DGS2 link with CC patient’s clinicopathological factors. Bioinformatics analysis was also used in study.ResultsThe results showed that DSG2 expression was lower in CC tissues than in pericarcinomatous tissues (P < 0.001). DSG2 expression was associated with differentiation (P = 0.033), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.045), distant metastasis (P = 0.006) and AJCC stage (P < 0.001). Univariate analysis indicated that poor OS in patients with CC was associated with low DSG2 expression (P < 0.001), tumor size (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001), distant metastasis (P < 0.001), AJCC stage (P < 0.001) and venous invasion (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, low DSG2 expression (P < 0.001), distant metastasis (P < 0.001), AJCC stage (P = 0.002), venous invasion (P < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for CC patients. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that low DSG2 expression affects protein activation, regulates the P53-related pathway in CC, and activates the EGFR pathway.ConclusionsThe results suggest that low DSG2 expression is associated with poor survival for CC patients. DSG2 could be a prognostic biomarker for CC.
Highlights
Desmoglein2 (DSG2) is a transmembrane protein that helps regulate intercellular connections and contributes to desmosome assembly
DSG2 protein expression in CC by immunohistochemistry staining DSG2 protein expression was detected by IHC in CC tissues and related pericarcinomatous tissues and colitis tissues
The results showed that CC tissues had low DSG2 expression, compared with that pericarcinomatous tissues (Fig. 1)
Summary
Desmoglein (DSG2) is a transmembrane protein that helps regulate intercellular connections and contributes to desmosome assembly. Desmosome are associated with cell adhesion junctions, which play an important role in cancer progression specially cancer cell migration and invasion. DSG2 expression in colon cancer (CC) and its association with CC patients’ overall survival (OS) are still unclear. Colon cancer (CC) is the third most common in both morbidity and mortality, with roughly 1.2 million new cases and 600,000 deaths worldwide every year [1]. The 5-year survival rate for distantly spread colon cancer is only 11.7% [3]. Invasion or spread of CC indicates higher malignancy and poor prognosis. Surgery is the main treatment for both early- and late-stage CC, but tumors recur in 30%-50% of all cases, usually presenting. Finding specific biomarkers for CC diagnosis and therapy is imperative [5, 6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
