Abstract
BackgroundEndocan, also known as endothelial cell specific molecule-1 (ESM1), is a 50 kDa soluble proteoglycan which is frequently overexpressed in many cancer types. Whether it is dysregulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not been investigated.MethodsWe analyzed the expression of ESM1 using bioinformatics analysis based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and then validated that ESM1 was significantly overexpressed in human HNSCC at the protein level using immunohistochemistry. We also analyzed the genes co-expressed with ESM1 in HNSCC.ResultsThe most correlated gene was angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2), a molecule which regulates physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Several transcription factor binding motifs including SMAD3, SMAD4, SOX3, SOX4, HIF2A and AP-1 components were significantly enriched in the promoter regions of the genes co-expressed with ESM1. Further analysis based on ChIP-seq data from the ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements) project revealed that AP-1 is an important regulator of ESM1 expression.ConclusionsOur results revealed a dysregulation of ESM1 and a potential regulatory mechanism for the co-expression network in HNSCC.
Highlights
Endocan, known as endothelial cell specific molecule-1 (ESM1), is a 50 kDa soluble proteoglycan which is frequently overexpressed in many cancer types
We identified a set of genes co-expressed with ESM1, and found that transcription factor binding motifs including SMAD3, SMAD4, SOX3, SOX4, HIF2A and AP-1 components were significantly enriched in the promoter regions of these correlated genes
ESM1 is overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data have become an important and widely used resource in cancer research
Summary
Known as endothelial cell specific molecule-1 (ESM1), is a 50 kDa soluble proteoglycan which is frequently overexpressed in many cancer types. Whether it is dysregulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not been investigated. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) includes many cancers in the head and neck originating from a variety of sub-sites including the lip, oral cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, and larynx. HNSCC is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Our understanding of the molecular and genetic abnormalities leading to oncogenesis of HNSCC has greatly increased over the past decade. Many studies based on genomic and expression profiles have provided a more thorough understanding
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
