Association and prognostic significance of alpha-L-fucosidase-1 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the regulatory mechanisms involved in the effects of alpha-L-fucosidase-1 on malignant tumor invasion and metastasis. MMP: Matrix metalloproteinase; FUCA-1: Alpha-L-fucosidase-1; EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor.

Figure 2 The inclusion and exclusion criteria for screening 119 patients from Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. EC: Esophageal carcinoma; ESCC: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; SCC: Squamous cell carcinoma.

Figure 3 Immunohistochemical staining for alpha-L-fucosidase-1 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. A: Stage IA esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with negative expression of alpha-L-fucosidase-1 (FUCA1) (total score, 0); B: Stage IIB ESCC with low expression of FUCA1 (total score, 2); C: Stage IIB ESCC with high expression of FUCA1 (total score, 12); D: Stage IB ESCC with negative expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) (total score, 0); E: Stage IB ESCC with low expression of MMP-9 (total score, 3); F: Stage IIIA ESCC with high expression of MMP-9 (total score, 12). Original magnification: 100 ×; scale bar: 100 μm.

Figure 4 Correlation analysis. A: Positive lymph node metastasis (N+) is associated with a high alpha-L-fucosidase-1 (FUCA1) total score; B: Low FUCA1 expression is associated with a low matrix metalloproteinase 9 total score. FUCA1: Alpha-L-fucosidase-1.

Figure 5 Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival in the Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center cohort. A: Lymphatic invasion (N0/N+); B: Pathological tumor-node-metastasis stage (I-II/III); C: Alpha-L-fucosidase-1 expression (low/high); D: Matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression (low/high). MMP-9: Matrix metalloproteinase 9; FUCA-1: Alpha-L-fucosidase-1.

Figure 6 Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival in The Cancer Genome Atlas database. A: Alpha-L-fucosidase-1 expression (low/high); B: Matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression (low/high). MMP-9: Matrix metalloproteinase 9; FUCA-1: Alpha-L-fucosidase-1.