SLC2A3 Expression is Differentially Associated with Postoperative Recurrence, Complications, and Liver Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer

Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of solute carrier family 2 member 3 (SLC2A3) expression in predicting liver metastasis, postoperative recurrence, and other postoperative complications in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study including 150 patients with CRC who underwent surgical treatment. Bioinformatics analyses were conducted to identify differentially expressed genes associated with CRC liver metastasis, from which SLC2A3 was identified as a key candidate. SLC2A3 mRNA expression in tumor and adjacent normal tissues was quantified using quantitative real-time PCR. Patients were stratified according to liver metastasis, postoperative recurrence, and postoperative complications. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to evaluate independent associations between SLC2A3 expression and postoperative outcomes. Results: SLC2A3 mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in CRC tumor tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.001). Elevated SLC2A3 expression was associated with liver metastasis, postoperative recurrence, and postoperative complications. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, SLC2A3 expression remained independently associated with postoperative recurrence and complications, while its association with liver metastasis was attenuated after adjustment for tumor differentiation. Conclusion: SLC2A3 expression is closely associated with adverse postoperative outcomes in CRC. While its association with liver metastasis appears partly mediated by tumor differentiation, SLC2A3 demonstrates potential as an independent marker, highlighting its potential value in postoperative risk stratification and prognostic assessment. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the retrospective design and lack of external validation. Keywords: colorectal cancer, SLC2A3, liver metastasis, postoperative recurrence, postoperative complications, prognosis