Prognostic significance of lymphovascular invasion in colorectal cancer and its association with genomic alterations

Figure 1 Kaplan-Meier curve for 5-year overall survival according to LVI status. The 5-year overall survival rate of LVI group was significantly lower than that of non-LVI group (36.0% vs 66.8%, log-rank P < 0.001). LVI: Lymphovascular invasion.

Figure 2 Comparison of DNA copy number alterations between colorectal cancers with and without LVI. Data were shown for the autosomes only. Blue represents gain of expression; red represents loss of expression. One hundred eighty-four DNA copy number alterations (105 gains and 79 losses) exhibited a significant difference in their frequencies between the two groups (P < 0.05). DCNA: DNA copy number alteration; LVI: Lymphovascular invasion.

Figure 3 DCNA classifier for differentiating between colorectal cancers with and without LVI. LVI were distinguished from those without it at a 95.7% accuracy rate by examining seven special DCNAs. The procedures of this analysis were as follows: chr6: 95148725-95193920 was taken as the first criterion. If a tumor showed gain at chr6: 95148725-95193920, it was categorized as a tumor with LVI. Six of 47 tumors were classified into this group. When the DCNA of the tumor was not this case, the second criterion (Loss at chr17: 30770711-30859316) was examined. Five tumors were separated from the remaining 41 tumors at this point. If the tumors showed no loss at chr17: 30770711-30859316, then the third criterion (Gain at chr14: 106113380-106135655) was checked. In this way, the DCNA of the tumor was in turn examined from the 1st to the 7th one. Each step successively sorted a cluster of either group. Finally, all colorectal cancers were divided into either of two groups, tumors with and without LVI. DCNA: DNA copy number alteration; LVI: Lymphovascular invasion.

Figure 4 Top GO terms enriched by the 1784 genes located at the 184 significant DNA copy number alterations. ^aP < 0.05; GO: Gene ontology.

Figure 5 Top Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway terms enriched by the 1784 genes located at the 184 significant DNA copy number alterations.

Figure 6 Protein‑protein interaction network for the genes related to lymphovascular invasion (confidence score > 0. 95). Blue represents gain of expression; red represents loss of expression. Diamonds represent the 31 hug genes identified by closeness, degree, and eigenvector.