LGR6 is a prognostic biomarker for less differentiated tumors in lymph nodes of colon cancer patients

• Introduction: The aim was to investigate whether the stem cell marker LGR6 has prognostic value in colon cancer, alone or in combination with the prognostic biomarkers CEA and CXCL16.Methods: LGR6 mRNA levels were determined in 370 half lymph nodes of 121 colon cancer patients. Ability to predict relapse after curative surgery was estimated by Kaplan-Meier survival model and Cox regression analyses.Results: Patients with high LGR6 levels [LGR6(+)] had a decreased mean survival time of 11 months at 5-year follow-up and 47 months at 12-year follow-up, respectively, with hazard ratios of 3.2 and 2.8. LGR6 mRNA analysis added prognostic value to CEA and CXCL16 mRNA analysis. In the poor prognosis groups CEA(+) and CXCL16(+), further division was achieved by LGR6 analysis. LGR6(+) patients had a very poor prognosis. LGR6 also identified a small number of CEA(-), TNM stage I patients who relapsed suggesting stem cell origin of these tumors. LGR6 and LGR5 levels correlated strongly in lymph nodes of stage I and IV patients but not in stage II patients, suggesting that these stem cell markers are differentially regulated.Conclusion: This study highlights LGR6 as a useful prognostic biomarker independently and in combination with CEA, CXCL16 or LGR5 identifying different risk groups.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

cancer stem cells

CEA

colon cancer

CXCL16

LGR5

LGR6

qRT-PCR

regional lymph nodes

cancer stem cells

CEA

colon cancer

CXCL16

LGR5

LGR6

qRT-PCR

regional lymph nodes

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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