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. 2025 Mar 17;25(1):179.
doi: 10.1186/s12876-025-03775-5.

THSD7A as a novel prognostic factor for colorectal carcinoma

Oktay Halit Aktepe  1 , Olcay Kurtulan  2 , Pinar Ezgi Dama  3 , Ahmet Melih Arslan  3 , Elif Atag  3 , Meral Uner  2 , Berfu Korucu  4 , Aziz Karaoglu  3 , Suayib Yalcin  5
Affiliations

THSD7A as a novel prognostic factor for colorectal carcinoma

Oktay Halit Aktepe et al. BMC Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Background: Thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7 A (THSD7A) expression, an angiogenesis-related protein, has been implicated in various aspects of cancer progression, reflecting its potential as a prognostic marker for various cancers. Therefore, we investigated the prognostic value of THSD7A expression in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: A total of 95 patients with CRC were included. The patients were stratified into two groups according to THSD7A expression status determined by immunohistochemistry [negative (no staining), and positive (expression ≥ 1% of cancer cells)]. The overall survival (OS) of prognostic subgroups was estimated by Kaplan Meier method. The prognostic value of THSD7A expression was evaluated by univariable and multivariable Cox regression models.

Results: THSD7A was expressed in 42.1% of CRC patients. Patients with no THSD7A expression had inferior OS than patients with THSD7A expression (72.9 months vs. median OS was not reached, p = 0.001, respectively). Our multivariate analyses revealed that the independent predictors of OS were poor differentiation of tumor (HR: 2.603, p = 0.002), advanced stage (HR: 3.210, p < 0.001), and the loss of THSD7A expression (HR: 3.094, p = 0.001).

Conclusions: The present study showed that THSD7A expression could serve as a potential prognostic marker for CRC cancer. Further research is warranted to elucidate the exact underlying THSD7A-mediated cancer progression and to explore its clinical use in improving CRC prognostication and treatment strategies.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Prognosis; THSD7A.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This retrospective study involving human participants was reviewed and approved by Clinical Research Ethic Commission of Hacettepe University (decision no: KA-20091/06.10.2020) and adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants or their relatives included in the study. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Immunohistochemical staining showing different expression status for THSD7A with magnification 200x. A negative staining for THSD7A. B weakly positive THSD7A expression. C moderately positive THSD7A expression. D strongly positive THSD7A expression staining
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Kaplan Meier curves estimating OS times stratified according to THSD7A expression status in A the whole population; B patients with early stage CRC; C patients with mCRC
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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