Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2 overexpression as a promising therapeutic target and noninvasive screening biomarker for colorectal cancer

Figure 1 Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2 and angiopoietin-like protein 2 protein expression in colorectal cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues. A: Comparison of leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2 protein expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) and paired normal tissues; B: Comparison of angiopoietin-like protein 2 protein expression in CRC and paired normal tissues. Quantification of protein expression using immunohistochemistry and Image-Pro Plus software. LILRB2: Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2; ANGPTL2: Angiopoietin-like protein 2; CRC: Colorectal cancer; AOD: Average option density. ^aP < 0.001.

Figure 2 Correlation of leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2 and angiopoietin-like protein 2 expression at the mRNA and protein levels in colorectal cancer. A: Correlation at the mRNA level in colorectal cancer (CRC); B: Correlation at the protein level in CRC; C: Immunohistochemical staining of leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2 (LILRB2) in paracancerous tissue; D: Low expression of LILRB2 in CRC tissue; E: High expression of LILRB2 in CRC tissue; F: Immunohistochemical staining of angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) in paracancerous tissue; G: Low expression of ANGPTL2 in CRC; H: Overexpression of ANGPTL2 in CRC. LILRB2: Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2; ANGPTL2: Angiopoietin-like protein 2; CRC: Colorectal cancer.

Figure 3 Association between leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2 and angiopoietin-like protein 2 expression and the prognosis of colorectal cancer. A: Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) mRNA expression and overall survival of colorectal cancer (CRC); B: ANGPTL2 mRNA expression and progression-free survival of CRC; C: Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2 (LILRB2) mRNA expression and overall survival of CRC; D: LILRB2 protein expression and overall survival of CRC. LILRB2: Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2; ANGPTL2: Angiopoietin-like protein 2; CRC: Colorectal cancer.

Figure 4 Screening and diagnostic efficacy of serum leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2 concentration. A: Comparison of serum leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2 (LILRB2) concentrations among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, adenoma patients and healthy controls; B: Comparison of serum LILRB2 concentrations before and after radical surgery; C and D: Comparison of serum LILRB2 concentrations between samples with different infiltration depths; E: Comparison of serum LILRB2 concentrations between samples with different degrees of differentiation; F: Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of serum LILRB2, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) for the diagnosis of CRC; G: The receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve of serum LILRB2, CEA and CA19-9 concentrations in the diagnosis of CRC. LILRB2: Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2; CRC: Colorectal cancer; CEA: Carcinoembryonic antigen; CA19-9: Carbohydrate antigen 19-9; ROC: Receiver operating characteristic curve; AUC: Area under the curve. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01; ^cP < 0.001.