Synthesis of cytochrome c oxidase 2 (SCO2) and TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR) are 2 p53-mediated proteins that can play a regulatory role in cancer energy metabolism. However, no study has examined the association of SCO2 and TIGAR with the prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (AC). In our study, the expression of SCO2 and TIGAR proteins in lung AC was detected, and the potential relation to prognosis was evaluated, aiming to take a further view of lung AC progression. Quantum dots-based immunofluorescence histochemistry staining was performed to observe the expression of p53, SCO2, and TIGAR in 75 specimens of lung AC. Of these, 51 (68.0%) showed high expression of SCO2, and 59 (78.7%) showed high expression of TIGAR. High TIGAR expression was significantly associated with a history of smoking (P = .017) and being male (P = .006). The correlation between high SCO2 expression and age also was significant (P = .042). Moreover, high TIGAR expression was positively correlated with high SCO2 expression (P = .019; rs = 0.271). High expression of the SCO2 and TIGAR proteins predicted poorer survival and a higher mortality rate (P = .024 and .030, respectively). High expression of SCO2 and TIGAR proteins is significantly associated with lung AC progression, suggesting their potential use as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.
Keywords: Energy metabolism; Lung adenocarcinoma; SCO2; TIGAR; p53.
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