High-tissue FRMD6 expression predicts better outcomes among colorectal cancer patients

Abstract

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths. The hippo pathway works as a regulator of organ growth and is often a target for mutations in cancer. Ferm domain containing protein 6 (FRMD6) is an activator of the hippo pathway. This study aimed to explore the role of FRMD6 in CRC and to determine how well it works as a prognostic factor among CRC patients.

Methods

The tumor expression of FRMD6 was evaluated using immunohistochemistry in 538 colorectal patients operated on at Helsinki University Hospital. We assessed FRMD6 expression with clinicopathological parameters and the impact of FRMD6 expression on survival.

Results

Patients with a high FRMD6 expression exhibited a better prognosis (univariable hazard ratio [HR] 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41–0.81), with a 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) of 66.3%. By contrast, patients with a low FRMD6 expression had a 5-year DSS of 52.8%. A high FRMD6 expression level served as an independent predictor for better survival in the Cox multivariable survival analysis (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33–0.86).

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that a high FRMD6 expression is an independent marker for a better prognosis in CRC and could help determine the prognosis for CRC patients.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Colorectal cancer is one the most common cancers worldwide affecting millions of individuals annually. To improve patient care, novel biomarkers are needed to individualize patient treatment. We show here that a high FRMD6 expression is an indicator of a favorable prognosis. In the future, FRMD6 might serve as a factor for determining which patients need adjuvant treatment following radical surgery.

Keywords:

• FRMD6
• colorectal cancer
• colon cancer
• immunohistochemistry
• prognosis

Acknowledgements

We thank Pia Saarinen for her indispensable technical assistance.

Author contributions

Conception: TK, CB, and CH

Data curation: TK, CB, JH, and AVK

Analysis of data: AVK, JH, and TK

Preparation of the manuscript: AVK, TK, and CB

Revision for important intellectual content: All authors

Supervision: TK and CB

Disclosure statements

The authors have no interests to disclose.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author (TK) upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research was financially supported by the Competitive State Research Financing of the Expert Responsibility of Helsinki University Hospital, the Finnish Cancer Foundation, Finska Läkaresällskapet, Understödsföreningen Liv och Hälsa, and the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation.