SFXN1 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of LUAD is associated with 18F-FDG metabolic parameters

Yao-Hua Zhang; Xu-Sheng Liu; Yan Gao; Ling-Ling Yuan; Zhong-Min Huang; Yu Zhang; Zi-Yue Liu; Yi Yang; Xiao-Yu Liu; Chang-Bin Ke; Zhi-Jun Pei

doi:10.1016/j.lungcan.2023.107449

SFXN1 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of LUAD is associated with ¹⁸F-FDG metabolic parameters

Lung Cancer. 2024 Feb:188:107449. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2023.107449. Epub 2023 Dec 27.

Authors

Yao-Hua Zhang¹, Xu-Sheng Liu², Yan Gao¹, Ling-Ling Yuan³, Zhong-Min Huang⁴, Yu Zhang¹, Zi-Yue Liu¹, Yi Yang¹, Xiao-Yu Liu¹, Chang-Bin Ke⁵, Zhi-Jun Pei⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nuclear Medicine and Institute of Anesthesiology and Pain, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China.
² Department of Nuclear Medicine and Institute of Anesthesiology and Pain, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China.
³ Department of Pathology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China.
⁴ Department of Medical Ultrasound, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China.
⁵ Department of Nuclear Medicine and Institute of Anesthesiology and Pain, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China. Electronic address: changbinke-iap@taihehospital.com.
⁶ Department of Nuclear Medicine and Institute of Anesthesiology and Pain, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China. Electronic address: pzjzml1980@taihehospital.com.

PMID: 38184958
DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2023.107449

Abstract

Background: Sideroflexin 1 (SFXN1) has been discovered as a novel tumor marker for lung adenocarcinoma, but data on its importance in the development of lung adenocarcinoma is still limited. This study evaluated the correlation between SFXN1 and parameters related to ¹⁸F-flurodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), and further explored the role of SFXN1 in the value-added and glycolytic processes of LUAD.

Method: The expression and prognostic value of SFXN1 mRNA in LUAD were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data base. Retrospective analysis of ¹⁸F-FDG PET imaging and metabolic parameters in 42 patients to explore the relationship between the expression of SFXN1 and glucose metabolism levels in lung adenocarcinoma and its clinical significance. H1975 cells were selected as the in vitro research object, and the biological effects of SFXN1 on LUAD were further elucidated through Edu proliferation assay, CCK8 activity assay, wound healing experiment, and cell flow cytometry.

Result: SFXN1 is highly expressed in various tumors, including LUAD, and its high expression can serve as an independent predictor of overall survival in lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, the expression of SFXN1 in LUAD was significantly correlated with ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT parameters: maximum and average standardized uptake values (SUVmax and SUVmean), as well as total lesion glycolysis (TLG) (rho = 0.574, 0.589, and 0.338, p < 0.05), which can predict the expression of SFXN1 with an accuracy of 0.934. In vitro functional experiments have shown that knocking down SFXN1 inhibits the proliferation and migration of LUAD cells, promotes cell apoptosis, and may inhibit tumor activity by regulating the expression of glycolytic related genes SLC2A1, HK2, GPI, ALDOA, GAPDH, ENO1, PKM, and LDHA.

Conclusion: The overexpression of SFXN1 is closely related to FDG uptake, and SFXN1, as a promising prognostic biomarker, may mediate the development of LUAD through the glycolytic pathway.

Keywords: (18)F-FDG PET; Glycolysis; Lung adenocarcinoma; Prognostic biomarker; Proliferation; SFXN1.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adenocarcinoma of Lung* / diagnosis
Adenocarcinoma of Lung* / genetics
Biomarkers
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / metabolism
Humans
Lung Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Lung Neoplasms* / genetics
Lung Neoplasms* / metabolism
Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies

Substances

Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
Biomarkers