PLK3 is linked with higher tumor stage and unfavorable prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract

Objective: This study intended to explore the relationship of PLK3 with prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: PLK3 positivity was detected by immunohistochemistry in 160 patients with CRC receiving surgical resection. Results: The median tumor PLK3-positive rate was 26.5%. Tumor PLK3-positive rate was related to increased lymph node stage (p = 0.002) and tumor–node–metastasis stage (p < 0.001) of CRC. Tumor PLK3-positive rate ≥30% was related to shortened disease-free survival (p = 0.009) and overall survival (p = 0.003); tumor PLK3-positive rate ≥50% showed a stronger correlation with them (both p = 0.001), which was validated by multivariate Cox regression analyses (both p < 0.05). Conclusion: Tumor PLK3-positive rate ≥50% relates to increased tumor stage and unfavorable survival in patients with CRC.

Summary points

• PLK3 is involved in multiple phases of the cell cycle, which is linked with the occurrence and progression of a variety of tumors.

• The aim of our study was to assess the relationship of PLK3 with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

• PLK3-positive rate was detected by immunohistochemistry in 160 patients with CRC who underwent surgical resection.

• The median (interquartile range) tumor PLK3-positive rate was 26.5% (4.0–49.0%) in patients with CRC.

• The tumor PLK3-positive rate was correlated with elevated node (N) stage and increased tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) stage in patients with CRC.

• The tumor PLK3-positive rate ≥30% was related to shortened disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS); meanwhile, tumor PLK3-positive rate ≥50% had a stronger correlation with them in patients with CRC.

• Tumor PLK3-positive rate ≥50% was independently related to decreased DFS and OS in patients with CRC.

• In summary, tumor PLK3-positive rate ≥50% is linked with elevated tumor stage and predicts shortened DFS and OS in patients with CRC.

Keywords: :

• clinicopathological features
• colorectal cancer
• disease-free survival
• overall survival
• PLK3

Author contributions

Conception and study design: H Zeng and W Zhang. Data acquisition: X Tu, H He, S Li and W ZZhang. Data analysis and interpretation of data: H Zeng, Q Wang, Y Xiang and Y Yang. Drafting the article: H Zeng and Q Wang. Critical revision for important intellectual content: all authors. Final approval of the version to be submitted: all authors.

Financial disclosure

This work was supported by a research grant provided by Heath and Family Planning Commission of Hubei Province (grant no. WJ2018H203), the Joint Fund project of Yangtze University (grant no. WJ2019-22) and the First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University (grant no. 2022DIF01). There are no conflicts of interest. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Competing interests disclosure

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, stock ownership or options and expert testimony.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval (Ethics Committee approval of First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University) or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations.

In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a research grant provided by Heath and Family Planning Commission of Hubei Province (grant no. WJ2018H203), the Joint Fund project of Yangtze University (grant no. WJ2019-22) and the First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University (grant no. 2022DIF01). There are no conflicts of interest. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.