Abstract
E2F is a group of genes that encode a family of transcription factors (TFs) in higher eukaryotes and participate in cell cycle regulation and DNA synthesis in mammalian cells. Evidence from cell lines, mouse models, and human tissues indicates that TFs are implicated in lung cancer (LC) tumorigenesis. However, the diverse expression patterns and prognostic values of eight E2Fs have yet to be elucidated. In the current study, we examined the transcriptional and survival data of E2Fs in patients with LC from ONCOMINE, GEPIA, Kaplan–Meier Plotter, and cBioPortal databases. We found that the expression levels of E2F1/2/3/5/6/7/8 were higher in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell lung carcinoma tissues than in lung tissues, whereas the expression level of E2F4 was lower in the former than in the latter. The expression levels of E2F2/4/5/7/8 were correlated with advanced tumor stage. Survival analysis using the Kaplan–Meier Plotter database revealed that the high transcription levels of E2F1/2/4/5/7/8 were associated with low relapse-free survival (RFS) in all of the patients with LC. Conversely, high E2F3/6 levels predicted high RFS in these patients. This study implied that E2F3/6/7 are potential targets of precision therapy for patients with LC and that E2F1/2/4/5/8 are new biomarkers for the prognosis of LC.
Highlights
E2Fs, a group of genes that encode a family of transcription factors (TFs) in higher eukaryotes, are generally subdivided into two groups based on functions: transcriptional activators (E2F1, E2F2, and E2F3a) and transcriptional repressors (E2F3b and E2F4-8) [1]
E2F3 overexpression is found in large-cell lung carcinoma with a fold change of 2.338 in Hou’s dataset [22] and in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with a fold change of 2.006 in Talbot’s dataset [25]
The results indicated that the expression levels of E2F1, E2F2, E2F3, E2F5, E2F6, E2F7, and E2F8 were higher in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell lung carcinoma tissues than in lung tissues, whereas and the expression level of E2F4 was lower in the former than in the latter (Figure 2)
Summary
E2Fs, a group of genes that encode a family of transcription factors (TFs) in higher eukaryotes, are generally subdivided into two groups based on functions: transcriptional activators (E2F1, E2F2, and E2F3a) and transcriptional repressors (E2F3b and E2F4-8) [1]. The expression of E2F activators is deregulated in several human malignancies, including bladder cancer [3], breast cancer [4], ovarian cancer[5], prostate cancer [5], gastrointestinal cancer [6], and lung cancer [7,8]. Lung cancer (LC) is a common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide [911]. This malignancy is divided into two main histological types: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Despite considerable advancements in diagnostic and treatment methods, the 5-year overall survival rate of LC remains less than 15% [16,17]. Prognostic markers and potential drug targets should be identified to enhance prognosis and individualized treatments
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
