High expression of LGR6 is a poor prognostic factor in esophageal carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 6 (LGR6) promotes carcinogenesis and progression in some cancer types. However, there are few reports of LGR6 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). LGR6 expression and clinicopathological features in ESCC were investigated by RNAscope, a highly sensitive RNA in situ hybridization method.

Methods: Appropriate tumors were selected from 41 cases of ESCC from which tissue microarrays were generated, and LGR6 expression was identified by RNAscope.

Results: Thirty-seven patients had LGR6 expression. High LGR6 expression was observed in 17 cases and low LGR6 expression in 24 cases. LGR6 expression was significantly higher in high histological grade ESCC than in low histological grade ESCC (P = 0.0023). ESCC patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy had significantly higher LGR6 expression than those without neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.0109). Furthermore, high LGR6 expression showed a poorer prognosis than low LGR6 expression (log-rank test, P = 0.0365).

Conclusions: LGR6 may be a prognostic factor and a potential new therapeutic target in ESCC.

Keywords: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 6; RNA in situ hybridization.