The role of oncostatin M in esophageal cancer and its potential as a prognostic maker

Introduction

Esophageal cancer (ESCA) remains one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide, with poor survival rates. Identifying novel biomarkers like Oncostatin M (OSM) could improve early detection, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies. OSM, a cytokine from the IL-6 family, plays complex roles in cancer biology, but its specific function in ESCA is poorly understood.

Materials and methods

Gene expression data from 198 ESCA samples were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GEO databases. Bioinformatic analyses, including differential expression and survival analysis, were conducted using R software. Functional experiments involved OSM knockdown in ESCA cell lines, followed by cell proliferation, migration, colony formation assays, and wound healing analysis.

Results

OSM expression was significantly elevated in ESCA tissues compared to normal tissues. High OSM expression correlated with poor overall survival and was associated with clinical parameters such as tumor stage and lymph node metastasis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that OSM knockdown reduced cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration in ESCA cell lines.

Conclusions

This study found that OSM overexpression in esophageal cancer was linked to advanced stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis. A prognostic nomogram based on OSM expression and clinical features predicted patient survival. Functional analysis suggested that OSM influences cancer progression via cytokine-receptor signaling, and silencing OSM reduced cell proliferation and migration, potentially improving prognosis.