IGF2BP2 maybe a novel prognostic biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Aim: The main of this study was to investigate the role of IGF2BP2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with the overarching of providing new biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets for OSCC. Methods: We combined datasets downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and samples collected from the clinic to evaluate the expression of IGF2BP2 in OSCC. IGF2BP2 survival analysis was respectively performed based on TCGA, GEO, and clinical samples. Correlations between IGF2BP2 expression and clinicopathological parameters were then analyzed, and signaling pathways associated with IGF2BP2 expression were identified using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA 4.1.0). Moreover, an IGF2BP2 co-expressed gene network was constructed, followed by gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis on IGF2BP2 co-expressed genes. Finally, TIMER and CIBERSORT were used to analyze the correlations among IGF2BP2, IGF2BP2-coexpressed genes, and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs). Results: IGF2BP2 was highly expressed in OSCC and significantly correlated with overall survival of OSCC patients (p＜0.01). High IGF2BP2 expression correlated with poor overall survival. The GSEA results showed that cell apoptosis-, tumor-, and immune-related pathways were significantly enriched in samples with high IGF2BP2 expression. Furthermore, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis results of IGF2BP2 co-expressed genes indicated that these genes are mainly associated with immunity/inflammation and tumorigenesis. In addition, IGF2BP2 and its co-expressed genes are associated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells (p<0.01). Conclusion: IGF2BP2 may be a potential prognostic biomarker in OSCC and correlates with immune infiltrates.

Cytoplasmic IGF2BP2 Protein Expression in Human Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Prognostic and Clinical Implications

“…Univariate and multivariate analyses both identified IGF2BP2 expression, histological grade, T status, lymph node metastases, and disease stage as key independent prognostic factors impacting the overall survival of OSCC patients (Table 3 ). Our findings suggest that IGF2BP2 may operate as an oncogene in OSCC cells, which is in line with earlier research 34 , 35 . Note that this was the first study to examine the use of clinicopathological variables and IGF2BP2 protein expression within the context of OSCC prognosis.…”

“…Moreover, Lu et al reported that IGF2BP2 may play an important role in the development of ESCC carcinogenesis 56 . In the current study, we discovered the overexpression of IGF2BP2 in OSCC patients (Figure 1 ), which is consistent with previous findings 35 . We also determined that IGF2BP2 overexpression is related to poor overall survival outcomes in OSCC patients (Figure 2 ), which suggests that it could perhaps be used as a prognostic indicator for use in OSCC risk classification.…”

“…The connections between positive IGF2BP2 protein expression and lymph node metastases, as well as between IGF2BP2 and AJCC cancer stage, suggest that IGF2BP2 may play a role in OSCC metastasis (Table 2 ). Our findings are consistent with previous studies in which IGF2BP2 mRNA expression levels were examined in the context of clinicopathological characteristics based on public clinical datasets 35 . Univariate and multivariate analyses both identified IGF2BP2 expression, histological grade, T status, lymph node metastases, and disease stage as key independent prognostic factors impacting the overall survival of OSCC patients (Table 3 ).…”

“…Researchers have reported that IGF2BP2 is elevated in cases of malignancy. IGF2BP2 levels can also use as a prognostic indicator of acute myelocytic leukemia 25 , breast cancer 53 , endometrial adenocarcinoma 54 , liposarcoma 55 , pancreatic cancer 27 , hepatocellular carcinoma 30 and OSCC 35 . Moreover, Lu et al reported that IGF2BP2 may play an important role in the development of ESCC carcinogenesis 56 .…”

“…The overexpression of IGF2BP2 has also been shown to promote the development of glioblastoma multiforme by activating the IGF2/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, thereby making glioblastoma resistant to temozolomide therapy [32]. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and OSCC tissues, the elevated mRNA or protein expression of IGF2BP2 is indicative of poor prognosis [33][34][35]. The upregulation of IGF2BP2 has also been shown to promote OSCC progression associated with cell proliferation, metastasis, and tumor-infiltrating immune cells [34].…”