High RIG-I and EFTUD2 expression predicts poor survival in endometrial cancer

Susanne Beyer & Thomas Kolben et al. · 2022-09-07

Abstract

Purpose

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy. The helicase RIG-I, a part of the innate immune system, and EFTUD2, a splicing factor which can upregulate RIG-I expression, are shown to influence tumor growth and disease progression in several malignancies. For endometrial cancer, an immunogenic cancer, data about RIG-I and EFTUD2 are still missing. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of RIG-I and EFTUD2 in endometrial cancer.

Methods

225 specimen of endometrial cancer were immunohistochemically stained for RIG-I and EFTUD2. The results were correlated to clinicopathological data, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

High RIG-I expression correlated with advanced tumor stages (FIGO: p = 0.027; pT: p = 0.010) and worse survival rates (OS: p = 0.009; PFS: p = 0.022). High EFTUD2 expression correlated to worse survival rates (OS: p = 0.026; PFS: p < 0.001) and was determined to be an independent marker for progression-free survival.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that the expression of RIG-I and EFTUD2 correlates with survival data, which makes both a possible therapeutic target in the future.

Authors
Susanne Beyer, Lena Müller, Sophie Mitter, Lucia Keilmann, Sarah Meister, Christina Buschmann, Fabian Kraus, Nicole E. Topalov, Bastian Czogalla, Fabian Trillsch, Alexander Burges, Sven Mahner, Elisa Schmoeckel, Sanja Löb, Stefanie Corradini, Mirjana Kessler, Udo Jeschke, Thomas Kolben