Diverse prognostic value of the GTn promoter polymorphism in squamous cell and adeno carcinoma of the oesophagus

Prognostic value of Nrf2/HO-1 expression and its correlation with occurrence in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is thought to be started and developed by genes associated with inflammation. A cancer's ability to spread and grow can be aided by nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) hyperactivation, which can also make a tumor more resistant to chemotherapy and radiation treatment. However, it is still unknown how Nrf2 gene expression affects ESCC prognosis and controls function throughout ESCC advancement.

OBJECTIVE

The expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in ESCC and precancerous esophageal precancerous lesions was analyzed, and their relationship with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was analyzed.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to confirm the expression of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) proteins in tissue microarrays from Chinese populations with ESCC. We looked at the connections between Nrf2/HO-1 expression and invading immune cells using the TIMER database.

RESULTS

Ethnicity and N stage are associated with Nrf2 overexpression. Differentiation, N stage, vascular invasion, distant metastasis, and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging are all associated with HO-1 overexpression. The expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 had a favorable correlation. Patients with elevated Nrf2 and HO-1 expression had lower progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, Nrf2 and HO-1 expression generally occurred, partially in low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia specimens, and rarely in normal mucosa. We further show that Nrf2 suppression is linked to higher immunological marker expression and lower immune cell infiltration.

CONCLUSION

The prognosis of ESCC may be improved by inhibiting the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. A lack of immune cells was seen in ESCC with Nrf2 impairment.

Association between heme oxygenase-1 gene promoter polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility: A meta-analysis

Numerous studies have focused on the association between heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene promoter polymorphisms and susceptibility to cancer; however, results remain ambiguous. The present systematic Human Genome Epidemiology review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify this association. A systematic search was used to assess the association of HO-1 gene polymorphisms with cancer susceptibility in the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wanfang Data and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases, with all reviewed studies published before April 10, 2017. Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 12.0 software were used to perform the meta-analysis. A total of 14 studies were included in the analysis. Overall, no significant associations of the HO-1 (GT)n and T(−413)A polymorphisms with cancer susceptibility were identified. However, subgroup analyses by ethnicity and cancer type indicated that the LL and L-allele (LL+LS) genotypes of HO-1 (GT)n were associated with increased susceptibility to cancer compared with the SS+SL and SS genotypes in the following subgroups: East Asian [LL+LS vs. SS: odds ratio (OR)=1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.11–2.05, P=0.0003; LL vs. SS+SL: OR=1.44, 95% CI=1.04–2.01, P=0.03; LL vs. SS: OR=1.64, 95% CI=1.07–2.52, P=0.02]; squamous cell carcinoma (LL+LS vs. SS: OR=1.78, 95% CI=1.35–2.34, P<0.05; LL vs. SS+SL: OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.34–2.18, P<0.05; LL vs. SS: OR=2.26, 95% CI =1.62–3.14, P<0.05); and digestive tract cancer + East Asian (LL+LS vs. SS: OR=1.56, 95% CI=1.22–1.98, P<0.05; LL vs. SS: OR=1.80, 95% CI=1.06–3.05, P<0.05). These findings indicated that there was no association of the HO-1 (GT)n and T(−413)A polymorphisms with cancer susceptibility, while the L-allele genotypes (LL and LS) of HO-1 (GT)n may be susceptibility factors for cancer in East Asian, digestive tract cancer in East Asian and squamous cell carcinoma populations. Due to limitations of the reviewed studies, additional large-scale and refined studies are now required to confirm the present findings.