title: Loss of cytoplasmic KLF4 expression is correlated with the progression and poor prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine, in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the correlation of Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) expression with clinicopathological features including patient prognosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, expression of KLF4 mRNA and protein was examined in NPC and nasopharyngeal tissues. The relationship of KLF4 expression levels with clinical features and prognosis of NPC patients was analysed. mRNA expression was markedly lower in NPC than in the nasopharyngeal tissues. Using immunohistochemistry, staining for KLF4 protein was found in the nuclei and cytoplasm of nasopharyngeal and malignant epithelial cells, but decreased cytoplasmic expression was observed in atypical hyperplasia and NPC samples compared to normal and squamous epithelium samples (P < 0.001). In addition, levels of cytoplasmic KLF4 protein were correlated inversely with the nodal (N) status (TNM classification; P = 0.002) and overall clinical stage (P < 0.001) of NPC patients. Patients with NPC showing lower cytoplasmic KLF4 expression had a significantly shorter overall survival time than those with high NPC KLF4 expression. Multivariate analysis suggested that the level of KLF4 expression was an independent prognostic indicator (P = 0.008) for NPC survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low levels of cytoplasmic KLF4 expression are a potentially unfavourable prognostic factor for patients with NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Basic School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Cancer Research Institute, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Huiling
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Weiren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Qingping
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Chunping
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiaobin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Weiyi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000715467:KLF4 protein, human; D000090062:Kruppel-Like Factor 4; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm
keywords: KLF4; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; prognosis