Zhongliu Fangzhi Yanjiu (Oct 2024)

Clinical Significance of WISP-1 and VEGF-A Expression Levels in Elderly Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  • Chenlu LI,
  • Junxing HUANG

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3971/j.issn.1000-8578.2024.24.0348
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 51, no. 10
pp. 858 – 863

Abstract

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ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) as novel molecular markers of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in elderly patients. MethodsElderly patients with ESCC were divided into 65-70 years old group and >70 years old group. Immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression levels of WISP-1 and VEGF-A proteins and mRNAs, respectively. Log rank test was used to analyze correlation between clinicopathological features and prognosis of ESCC in the elderly. ResultsThe positive expression rate of WISP-1 in ESCC tissues was significantly higher than that in para-cancer tissues (53.33% vs. 35.42%, P=0.045). The positive expression rate of WISP-1 in patients over 70 years old and with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that in patients aged 65-70 years and without lymph node metastasis (P=0.047 and 0.032). The positive expression rate of VEGF-A protein in ESCC tissues was significantly higher than that in para-cancer tissues (50.00% vs. 20.83%, P=0.001). The positive expression rate of VEGF-A in patients with depth of infiltration T3-T4 stage, lymph node metastasis, and TNM Ⅲ-Ⅳ stage was significantly higher than that in patients with T1-T2 stage, no lymph node metastasis, and Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage (P=0.030, 0.006, and 0.010, respectively). The mRNA expression levels of these two molecules were significantly higher in ESCC tissues than in para-cancer tissues (P<0.05), and the results of univariate analysis showed that the expression levels of WISP-1 and VEGF-A were correlated with the prognosis of ESCC in the elderly (P<0.05). The results of multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis was the independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of elderly patients with ESCC. ConclusionWISP-1 and VEGF-A are associated with malignant behavior in elderly patients with ESCC. The expression of WISP-1 increased with age, and it has potential as a novel molecular marker of ESCC in elderly patients.

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