title: Down-regulation of EGFL8: a novel prognostic biomarker for patients with colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a previous study, we reported a critical role of epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL7) in the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and documented it to be a prognostic biomarker as well as a potential therapeutic target for HCC. However, the role of EGFL8, the only known paralog of EGFL7, in human malignancies is currently unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  EGFL8 expression in 101 cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients was determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and the clinicopathological features of the CRC patients were correlated with the EGFL8 down-regulation scores. In addition, the survival curve and Cox regression model were also employed to assess the prognostic value of EGFL8 down-regulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EGFL8 was significantly decreased in CRC tissues (p<0.0001) and the down-regulation of EGFL8 was evidenced in 74.3% (75/101) of the CRC patients. EGFL8 down-regulation correlated significantly to distant metastasis (p=0.038) and high TNM stage (p=0.012) of CRC. The CRC patients with high EGFL8 down-regulation showed either poorer disease-free survival (p=0.0167) or poorer overall survival (p=0.0310) than those with low EGFL8 down-regulation. Multivariable analysis identified EGFL8 down-regulation as an independent prognostic factor for CRC patients (hazard ratio, 12.974; p=0.037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduced expression of EGFL8 is closely related to metastastic potential and poor prognosis of CRC, suggesting the down-regulation of EGFL8 as a novel prognostic biomarker for CRC patients.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors: Fan
authors: F
authors: Wu
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Shirahata
authors: Kazuma
authors: K
authors: Sakuraba
authors: Yohei
authors: Y
authors: Kitamura
authors: Tetsuhiro
authors: T
authors: Goto
authors: Mitsuo
authors: M
authors: Saito
authors: Kazuyoshi
authors: K
authors: Ishibashi
authors: Gaku
authors: G
authors: Kigawa
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Nemoto
authors: Yutaka
authors: Y
authors: Sanada
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Hibi
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; C561775:EGFL8 protein, human; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors