Journal
JOURNAL OF CANCER
Volume 12, Issue 12, Pages 3486-3500Publisher
IVYSPRING INT PUBL
DOI: 10.7150/jca.46579
Keywords
SOX4; hepatocellular carcinoma; hepatitis B virus; mRNA expression
Categories
Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [81560535]
- Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province of China [2017JJB140189y, 2018GXNSFAA050119]
- 2009 Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET)
- Guangxi Natural Sciences Foundation [GuiKeGong 1104003A-7]
- Guangxi Health Ministry Medicine Grant (Key-Scientific Research Grant) [Z201018]
- Scientific Research Fund of the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region [Z2016318]
- Guangxi Key RD Program [GKEAB18221019]
- Key laboratory of High-Incidence-Tumor Prevention & Treatment (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education [GKE2018-01, GKE2019-11]
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis [GXCDCKL201902]
- Research Institute of Innovative Think-tank in Guangxi Medical University
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study demonstrated that differential SOX4 expression is significantly upregulated in tumor tissue, and SOX4 is closely associated with overall survival and recurrence-free survival in HBV-associated HCC. SOX4 may impact TP53 metabolic processes, lymphocyte differentiation, and the insulin signaling pathway in HCC. The diagnostic and prognostic potential of SOX4 in HCC was also highlighted in this research.
Background: Hepatitis B virus infection is associated with liver disease, including cancers. In this study, we assessed the power of sex-determining region Y (SRY)-related high-mobility group (HMG)-box 4(SOX4) gene to predict the clinical course of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: To evaluate the differential expression of SOX4 and its diagnostic and prognostic potential in HCC, we analyzed the GSE14520 dataset. Stratified analysis and joint-effect analysis were done using SOX4 and clinical factor. We then designed a nomogram for predicting the clinical course of HCC. Differential SOX4 expression and its correlation with tumor stage as well as its diagnostic and prognostic value were analyzed on the oncomine and GEPIA websites. Gene set enrichment analysis was explored as well as candidate gene ontology and metabolic pathways modulated by in SOX4 HCC. Results: Our analysis revealed that the level of SOX4 was significantly upregulated in tumor issue (P <0.001). This observation was validated through oncomine dataset and MERAV analysis (all P <0.05). Diagnostic receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of SOX4 suggested it has diagnostic potential in HCC (GSE14520 dataset: P <0.001, area under curve (AUC) = 0.782; Oncomine: (Wurmbach dataset) P = 0.002, AUC = 0.831 and (Mas dataset) P <0.001, AUC = 0.947). In addition, SOX4 exhibited high correlation with overall survival of HBV-associated HCC (adjusted P = 0.004, hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) = 2.055 (1.261-3.349) and recurrence-free survival (adjusted P = 0.008, HR (95% CI) = 1.721 (1.151-2.574). These observations which were verified by GEPIA analysis for overall survival (P = 0.007) and recurrence-free survival (P= 0.096). Gene enrichment analysis revealed that affected processes included lymphocyte differentiation, pancreatic endocrine pathways, and insulin signaling pathway. SOX4 prognostic value was evaluated using nomogram analysis for HCC 1, 3, and 5-year, survival. Conclusion: Differential SOX4 expression presents an avenue of diagnosing and predicting clinical course of HCC. In HCC, SOX4 may affect TP53 metabolic processes, lymphocyte differentiation and the insulin signaling pathway.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available