Significance of expression of LAPTM4B-35 and CTGF in adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

AIM To detect the expression of lysosome-associated protein transmembrane-4β (LAPTM4B) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG), and to analyze their clinical significance. METHODS Immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods were used to detect the expression of LAPTM4B-35 and CTGF in 137 cases of AEG tissue samples. The correlation between the expression of LAPTM4B-35, CTGF and clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed. We also analyzed the value of LAPTM4B-35 and CTGF protein expression in predicting the prognosis of AEG patients. RESULTS High expression of LAPTM4B-35 was detected in 89.1% of AEG tissues. High expression of LAPTM4B-35 was more frequently detected in cases with distant metastasis (P = 0.011) and in stage III or IV cases (P = 0.026). High expression of CTGF was detected in 51.1% of cases. Patients with high CTGF expression showed a highe r inc idenc e of di s t ant metastasis (P = 0.033), and the tumor diameter in this group was much bigger than that in cases with low CTGF expression (P = 0.021). The expression of LAPTM4B-35 was correlated with that of CTGF in AEG tissues (r = 0.218; P = 0.010). Patients with high LAPTM4B-35 or CTGF expression had the worst outcome in terms of overall survival compared with the low expression group (P < 0.001). Cox regression analysis of 137 patients showed that high LAPTM4B-35 expression (P < 0.001), distant metastasis (P < 0.001), lymph nodes metastasis (P = 0.007), intravascular cancer emboli (P = 0.022), and sex (P < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION The expression of LAPTM4B-35 and CTGF in AEG is closely correlated with tumor progression and metastasis. LAPTM4B-35 has significant value in predicting the prognosis of AEG patients.