Elevated KLF7 levels may serve as a prognostic signature and might contribute to progression of squamous carcinoma. Issue 8 (13th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Jingrun; Xie, Kuixia; Wang, Zihui; Li, Chengxin
• Is Part Of: FEBS open bio. Volume 10:Issue 8(2020)
• Page Start: 1577
• Page End: 1586
• Publication Date: 2020-07-13
• Subjects: carcinogenesis -- immunohistochemical staining -- KLF7 -- prognosis -- squamous carcinoma -- TCGA; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Periodicals; Biological Science Disciplines -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; Cell Biology -- Periodicals; Cytology; Life sciences; Molecular biology; Periodicals; 572.805
• DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12912
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-5463

Abstract

Abstract : Global efforts have been undertaken to define the genome‐wide distribution of epigenetic markers in cancerous tissues, which provide an invaluable opportunity to understand cancer biology and identify predictive signatures. Several studies have focused on the gene expression patterns of squamous carcinoma to identify tumor subtypes and find prognostic and therapeutic targets because squamous carcinoma genomes showed high instability. However, the number of reliable reports referring prognostic significance of genes and their role in squamous carcinoma is still quite limited. Krüppel‐like factor 7 (KLF7) is a transcription factor that is widely expressed in numerous human tissues at low levels. Members of the KLF family have established roles in tumor cell fate, stress response, cell survival and the tumor‐initiating properties of cancer stem‐like cells. Hence to investigate whether KFL7 expression from cancer tissue holds promise as a prognostic and/or therapeutic target, we analyzed gene expression profiles from squamous carcinoma and surgical margin tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas. We identified significant up‐regulation of KLF7 in squamous carcinoma, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Elevated KLF7 expression was associated with poor squamous carcinoma prognosis before and after correcting for confounding factors by multivariate Cox regression analysis. Several pathways, such as Neurotrophin and GnRH pathways, were activated in KLF7 ‐up‐regulated squamous carcinoma samples through Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. In conclusion, we consolidate the potential role(s) of KLF7 in squamous carcinoma carcinogenesis from The Cancer Genome Atlas surgical margin tissue, offering insights into expression signatures that are potentially useful for prognosis modalities. Abstract : Here, we evaluated the potential of Krüppel‐like factor 7 (KLF7) as a prognostic signature in squamous carcinoma. Our results suggest that KLF7 is expressed at a high level in squamous carcinoma samples and is associated with poor prognosis. Moreover, our data suggest that several pathways, such as the Neurotrophin and GnRH pathways, are activated in squamous carcinoma samples with high levels of KLF7 .