Epithelial zinc finger protein in lung adenocarcinoma: prognostic biomarker with molecular and clinical implications
PMCID: PMC12175355
PMID: 40533866
DOI: 10.1186/s41065-025-00476-7
Journal: Hereditas
Publication Date: 2025-6-18
Authors: Wen X, Zhu J, Xi D, Chen M, Zeng D, et al.
Key Points
- EZF expression is significantly downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma, yet correlates with advanced tumor progression
- High-risk patients with low EZF expression showed 1.875-fold increased odds of advanced T-stage (OR 1.875, 95% CI 1.117-3.209, p=0.019)
- EZF may serve as a context-dependent prognostic biomarker for personalized risk assessment in lung adenocarcinoma
Summary
This comprehensive study investigated the prognostic significance of epithelial zinc finger protein (EZF/KLF4) in lung adenocarcinoma (LAC), revealing a complex role in tumor progression and immune modulation. By analyzing multiple genomic datasets and conducting immunohistochemistry on 25 paired tissue samples, researchers discovered that EZF expression was significantly downregulated in LAC tissues, yet paradoxically associated with advanced tumor stages and worse patient survival outcomes.
The research uncovered critical insights into EZF's context-dependent regulatory mechanisms, demonstrating strong correlations with immune cell infiltration and potential prognostic value. Through advanced computational analyses including protein-protein interaction networks and gene set enrichment, the study developed a predictive nomogram that integrates EZF expression, tumor staging, and residual tumor status to stratify patient risk more precisely.