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Is Integrin Subunit Alpha 2 Expression a Prognostic Factor for Liver Carcinoma? A Validation Experiment Based on Bioinformatics Analysis

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Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

ITGA2 (Integrin alpha-2) has been detected to be over-expressed in a number of cancers and has been suggested to be involved in cell adhesion and cell-surface mediated signaling. Our previous study using bioinformatic analyses has shown that ITGA2 might be a key gene being involved in the Cadmium-induced malignant transformation of liver cells. In the present study, we firstly aimed to learn the possible functions of ITGA2 via bioinformatics analysis, and then test its expression and clinical significance in liver carcinoma specimens through laboratory experiments. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis, as well as protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis has been conducted in Genecards. Then, a tissue microarray containing 90 cases of liver cancer and 90 paired adjacent non-cancerous samples was used for detection of ITGA2 expression by immunohistochemistry assay. Consequently, ITGA2 may be enriched in pathways regarding cell adhesion and migration. PPI analysis suggests that ITGA1, ITGB2, FLT4, LAMB1 and AGRN may have a close relationship with ITGA2. No association between ITGA2 expression and clinical parameters was observed. However, the data showed that ITGA2 might be an independent prognostic factor for liver cancer patients. In conclusion, the data suggest that ITGA2 over-expression might be a potential unfavorable prognostic factor and a potential therapeutic target for liver carcinoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of food science and nutritional engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China

    Liang Zhang, Zhen Yu, Yunbo Luo & Yi Zhu

  2. Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China

    Liang Zhang, JunJun Ling & Wenlei Zhuo

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Affiliated hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China

    Yi Huang

Authors
  1. Liang Zhang
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  2. Yi Huang
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  3. JunJun Ling
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  4. Wenlei Zhuo
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  5. Zhen Yu
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  6. Yunbo Luo
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  7. Yi Zhu
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Contributions

LZ and YZ designed the study and reviewed the manuscript. YH, JL and WZ performed the bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemical staining. LZ, ZY and YL analysed the data. LZ, WL, and YZ wrote the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yi Zhu.

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The experiments reported here were carried out according to the Declaration of Helsinki principles and the institute’s ethical regulations.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Zhang, L., Huang, Y., Ling, J. et al. Is Integrin Subunit Alpha 2 Expression a Prognostic Factor for Liver Carcinoma? A Validation Experiment Based on Bioinformatics Analysis. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 25, 1545–1552 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-018-0551-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-018-0551-0

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