Upregulated WTAP expression in colorectal cancer correlates with tumor site and differentiation

PLoS One. 2022 Feb 10;17(2):e0263749. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263749. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Few reports exist regarding the expression and function of Wilms' tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) in colorectal cancer (CRC), and the evidence is controversial. Our analysis explored the expression of WTAP in CRC tissue, and analyzed its clinical and prognostic significance. WTAP expression was significantly higher in CRC tissue than in colorectal adenoma and normal colorectal tissue. WTAP was highest in left colon tumor samples and negatively associated with tumor differentiation, as well as depth of tumor invasion. In multiple logistic regression analysis, independent predictors of WTAP expression in CRC included tumor in the left colon (odds ratio = 2.634; 95% confidence interval: 1.129-6.142; P = 0.025) and poorly differentiated tissue (0.072; 0.014-0.367; P = 0.002). No clear relationship was observed between CRC patient prognosis and WTAP expression. We suggest that WTAP expression is upregulated in CRC, highly expressed in left colon cancer and negatively correlated with tumor differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Prognosis
  • RNA Splicing Factors / metabolism*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Up-Regulation*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • RNA Splicing Factors
  • WTAP protein, human

Grants and funding

CQW. This work was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81802660).The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.