Krüppel-like factor 5: a novel biomarker for lymph node metastasis and recurrence in supraglottic squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma

• Published in: Tumor biology Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 623 - 629
• Main Authors: Mao, Xionghui, Miao, Susheng, He, Hongjiang, Miao, Suping, Pei, Rong, Yang, Xianguang, Xiu, Chen, Song, Kaibin, Zhang, Jian, Sun, Ji, Jia, Shenshan, Guan, Qiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cadherins - genetics; Cadherins - metabolism; Cancer Research; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Epigenetics; Female; Gene Expression; Glottis - pathology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Kinases; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors - genetics; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors - metabolism; Laryngeal cancer; Laryngeal Neoplasms - genetics; Laryngeal Neoplasms - metabolism; Laryngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - genetics; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism; Research Article; China; Laryngeal carcinoma; KLF 5 (Krüppel-like factor 5); Biomarker; ILK (integrin-linked kinase); EMT (epithelial–mesenchymal transition)
• ISSN: 1010-4283; 1423-0380
• DOI: 10.1007/s13277-013-1086-3

Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5), a zinc finger-containing transcription factor, is involved in important biological processes including cell transformation, proliferation, and carcinogenesis. However, its clinical significance has remained largely unknown in laryngeal cancer. Here, specimens from 144 patients with laryngeal tumors were investigated by immunohistochemical staining for KLF5, integrin-linked kinase (ILK), and E-cadherin expressions. A clinicopathological study revealed that the KLF5 expression level in tumor cells was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (
P
 < 0.05) and local recurrence (
P
 < 0.05). In addition, KLF5, ILK, and E-cadherin (epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarker) expressions were correlated with each other. These findings suggest that KLF5 may be an epithelial–mesenchymal transition-associated biomarker in human laryngeal carcinomas and play important roles in the progression of laryngeal carcinomas. KLF5 immunoreactivity is therefore considered a potential lymph node metastasis and recurrence factor in human laryngeal cancers. In addition, the KLF5-mediated pathway is a potential target for elimination of laryngeal cancer in the future.