J Cancer 2021; 12(5):1343-1355. doi:10.7150/jca.50370 This issue Cite

Research Paper

Increased IGFBP7 Expression Correlates with Poor Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Gastric Cancer

Qiaoyun Zhao1, Rulin Zhao1, Conghua Song1, Huan Wang1, Jianfang Rong1, Fangfei Wang1, Lili Yan2, Yanping Song1, Yong Xie1✉

1. Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17, Yongwai Zheng Street, Donghu District, Nanchang, 330000, Jiangxi, China.
2. Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jiangxi Institute of Medical Sciences, Nanchang 330000, Jiangxi Province, China.

Citation:
Zhao Q, Zhao R, Song C, Wang H, Rong J, Wang F, Yan L, Song Y, Xie Y. Increased IGFBP7 Expression Correlates with Poor Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Gastric Cancer. J Cancer 2021; 12(5):1343-1355. doi:10.7150/jca.50370. https://www.jcancer.org/v12p1343.htm
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Abstract

Graphic abstract

Background: Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-7 (IGFBP7) contributes to multiple biological processes in various tumors. However, the role of IGFBP7 in gastric cancer (GC) is still undetermined. The study aims to explore the role of IGFBP7 in GC via an integrated bioinformatics analysis.

Methods: IGFBP7 expression levels in GC and its normal gastric tissues were analyzed using multiple databases, including the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), Oncomine, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, as well as by our clinical gastric specimens. The methylation analysis was conducted with MEXPRESS, UALCAN and Xena online tools. The survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier Plotter and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases. Coexpressed genes of IGFBP7 were selected with the cBioPortal tool and enrichment analysis was conducted with the clusterProfiler package in R software. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to explore the IGFBP7-related biological processes involved in GC. Correlations between IGFBP7 and immune cell infiltrates were analyzed using the TIMER database.

Results: IGFBP7 expression was significantly upregulated in GC and correlated with stage, grade, tumor status and Helicobacter pylori infection. High IGFBP7 expression and low IGFBP7 methylation levels were significantly associated with short survival of patients with GC. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that IGFBP7 was an independent risk factor for GC. The coexpressed genes LHFPL6, SEPTIN4, HSPB2, LAYN and GGT5 predicted unfavorable outcomes of GC. Enrichment analysis showed that the coexpressed genes were involved in extracellular matrix (ECM)-related processes. GSEA indicated that IGFBP7 was positively related to ECM and inflammation-related pathways. TIMER analysis indicated that the mRNA level of IGFBP7 was strongly correlated with genes related to various infiltrating immune cells in GC, especially with gene markers of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs).

Conclusions: Increased IGFBP7 expression correlates with poor prognosis and immune cell infiltration in GC, which might be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of GC.

Keywords: IGFBP7, prognosis, immune infiltration, gastric cancer, bioinformatics analysis


Citation styles

APA
Zhao, Q., Zhao, R., Song, C., Wang, H., Rong, J., Wang, F., Yan, L., Song, Y., Xie, Y. (2021). Increased IGFBP7 Expression Correlates with Poor Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Gastric Cancer. Journal of Cancer, 12(5), 1343-1355. https://doi.org/10.7150/jca.50370.

ACS
Zhao, Q.; Zhao, R.; Song, C.; Wang, H.; Rong, J.; Wang, F.; Yan, L.; Song, Y.; Xie, Y. Increased IGFBP7 Expression Correlates with Poor Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Gastric Cancer. J. Cancer 2021, 12 (5), 1343-1355. DOI: 10.7150/jca.50370.

NLM
Zhao Q, Zhao R, Song C, Wang H, Rong J, Wang F, Yan L, Song Y, Xie Y. Increased IGFBP7 Expression Correlates with Poor Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Gastric Cancer. J Cancer 2021; 12(5):1343-1355. doi:10.7150/jca.50370. https://www.jcancer.org/v12p1343.htm

CSE
Zhao Q, Zhao R, Song C, Wang H, Rong J, Wang F, Yan L, Song Y, Xie Y. 2021. Increased IGFBP7 Expression Correlates with Poor Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Gastric Cancer. J Cancer. 12(5):1343-1355.

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