Association of Laminin subunit gamma-2 (LAMC2) gene expression with hepatic metastasis in colorectal cancer patient: An observational study

Link of Video Abstract: https://youtu.be/niQyXOLjEnk Background: Laminin subunit gamma-2 (LAMC2) is a novel biomarker in the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer and has been associated with metastasis and prognosis of the disease. This study investigates the potential association between LAMC2 gene expression and hepatic metastasis, aiming to evaluate its potential as a reliable predictor of metastasis in colorectal cancer patients. Methods: This is an observational analysis of data from patients with colorectal cancer, collected between January and April 2024 at the Centre for Genetic Studies, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia. Tumor tissues were obtained via biopsy or surgical resection. The LAMC2 expression was measured through quantitative real-time PCR (qt-PCR). ANOVA and T-test analyses were done to assess the mean difference in LAMC2 expression levels in colorectal cancer patients with and without hepatic metastasis. Results: The expression of LAMC2 did not show any significant differences between sex, anatomical pathology, tumor location, stage, and metastases. But there were significant differences between early onset and late onset (P = 0.029); patients with late onset showed a higher mean of LAMC2 expression. Conclusion: Our investigation revealed no association between the expression levels of LAMC2 and the occurrence of hepatic metastasis in colorectal cancer. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that future studies employing larger sample sizes will provide more comprehensive insights. Moreover, the exploration of LAMC2 as a potential target for anticancer therapy warrants further consideration and development in subsequent research endeavors.