Open Access

Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase: A novel biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma

  • Authors:
    • Shengsong Chen
    • Zhanpeng Lu
    • Xiaoyong Chen
    • Xiya Wu
    • Hongying Tu
    • Lingling Yu
    • Zuke Xiao
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 24, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.12010
  • Article Number: 147
  • Copyright: © Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK), is an adenosine monophosphate‑activated protein kinase‑related kinase that serves important roles in tumourigenesis in multiple malignant tumours. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effect of MELK in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has not been elucidated. The present study aimed to explore the clinical significance of MELK in the prognosis of LUAD. Data from Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were selected to predict the differential mRNA expression levels of MELK mRNA in LUAD and normal tissues. Subsequently, LUAD and adjacent normal tissue samples were collected from 75 patients with the disease, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of MELK. In addition, the Kaplan‑Meier Plotter database, GEPIA and TCGA were used to verify the effect of MELK expression on clinical prognosis in patients with LUAD. MELK was significantly upregulated in LUAD tissues compared with that in normal tissues based on Oncomine, GEPIA and TCGA data (P<0.05). In addition, the results from immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the MELK protein level in LUAD tissues was significantly higher compared with that in matched normal tissues (P<0.05). Prognostic analysis performed using the Kaplan‑Meier plotter, GEPIA and TCGA suggested that the expression of MELK was negatively associated with the overall survival time of patients with LUAD (P<0.05). In conclusion, MELK was highly expressed in LUAD based on bioinformatics and immunohistochemistry analysis, and increased expression of MELK was associated with a poor patient prognosis. MELK may serve as a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for LUAD.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

November-2020
Volume 20 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Chen S, Lu Z, Chen X, Wu X, Tu H, Yu L and Xiao Z: Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase: A novel biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma. Oncol Lett 20: 147, 2020.
APA
Chen, S., Lu, Z., Chen, X., Wu, X., Tu, H., Yu, L., & Xiao, Z. (2020). Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase: A novel biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma. Oncology Letters, 20, 147. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.12010
MLA
Chen, S., Lu, Z., Chen, X., Wu, X., Tu, H., Yu, L., Xiao, Z."Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase: A novel biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma". Oncology Letters 20.5 (2020): 147.
Chicago
Chen, S., Lu, Z., Chen, X., Wu, X., Tu, H., Yu, L., Xiao, Z."Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase: A novel biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma". Oncology Letters 20, no. 5 (2020): 147. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.12010