[Retracted] Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of DACH1 Methylation in the Sensitivity of Esophageal Cancer to Radiotherapy

Abstract

To detect the methylation status of the cell fate determinant (DACH1) gene in esophageal cancer tissues and to explore the predictive value of methylation of DACH1 on the sensitivity to radiotherapy for esophageal cancer. Cancer tissues, corresponding paracancerous tissues, and 30 specimens of normal esophageal mucosal tissues from 70 patients admitted to the hospital after radical esophageal cancer radiotherapy from January 2016 to April 2017 were collected. The methylation status of DACH1 was detected by a methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). The 70 esophageal cancer patients were divided into radiotherapy-sensitive and radiotherapy-insensitive groups according to the efficacy of radiotherapy, and the methylation status of DACH1 was compared between the two groups. The χ2 test was used to analyze the relationship between the methylation status of DACH1 and the clinicopathological characteristics of esophageal cancer patients. The Kaplan–Meier survival curve was used to analyze the relationship between the methylation status of DACH1 and radiotherapy sensitivity and survival of esophageal cancer patients, and the Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze the independent influencing factors affecting the radiotherapy sensitivity of esophageal cancer patients. The methylation rate of DACH1 in esophageal cancer tissues was higher than that in paracancerous tissues and normal tissues, and the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.05 ). 70 patients with esophageal cancer completed radiotherapy, including 46 patients with radiotherapy sensitivity and 24 patients with radiotherapy insensitivity. The DACH1 methylation rate of esophageal cancer patients in the radiotherapy-sensitive group was lower than that in the radiotherapy-insensitive group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05 ). The DACH1 methylation rate of esophageal cancer patients with TNM stage (III-IV), tumor differentiation degree (hypofractionation), and lymph node metastasis was higher, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05 ). The Kaplan–Meier curve showed that the median survival time of patients with DACH1 methylation before radiotherapy was 23 months, which was shorter than that of patients with DACH1 unmethylation before radiotherapy (36 months), and the difference between the survival curves of the two groups was statistically significant (χ2 = 7.425, P < 0.05 ); the median survival time of patients in the radiotherapy-sensitive group was 39 months, which was longer than that of patients in the radiotherapy-insensitive group (25 months), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P < 0.05 ). The median survival time of patients in the radiotherapy-sensitive group was 39 months, which was longer than that of patients in the radiotherapy-insensitive group (25 months), and the difference in survival curves between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2 = 7.011, P < 0.05 ). The results of the multifactorial Cox regression model showed that TNM stage (stage III-IV) (HR = 1.961, 95% CI: 1.125–2.768), tumor hypofractionation (HR = 1.453, 95% CI: 1.034–2.857), presence of lymph node metastasis (HR = 1.499, 95% CI: 1.025–2.851), and DACH1 methylation (HR = 1.718, 95% CI: 1.067–2.596) may increase the risk of insensitivity to radiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer ( P < 0.05 ). The rate of DACH1 methylation in esophageal cancer tissues was increased, and the methylation status of DACH1 was related to radiotherapy sensitivity and survival of esophageal cancer patients, which is expected to be a new target for diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer patients.

Dachshund Homolog 1: Unveiling Its Potential Role in Megakaryopoiesis and Bacillus anthracis Lethal Toxin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

“…The DACH1 gene has been extensively studied and recognized as a crucial transcription regulator for the development of various organs and tissue, including the eyes, legs, nervous system, arterial vessels, and female reproductive tract in humans, mice, and Drosophila [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 75 , 76 , 77 ]. Furthermore, DACH1 has been recognized as a tumor suppressor gene in humans [ 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ]. Despite its extensive study, limited research directly explored its role in hematopoiesis, with only two notable studies.…”

“…Low expression of DACH1 has been observed in various types of tumors, such as breast tumors, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, and endometrial cancer. This low expression is correlated with increased tumor proliferation, metastasis, tumor mutation burden, reduced prognostic survival, radio sensitivity, and chemotherapy sensitivity [ 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ]. Furthermore, high methylation of the DACH1 promoter results in reduced expression of DACH1 in tumors [ 62 , 63 ].…”

Retracted: Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of DACH1 Methylation in the Sensitivity of Esophageal Cancer to Radiotherapy

“…This article has been retracted by Hindawi following an investigation undertaken by the publisher [ 1 ]. This investigation has uncovered evidence of one or more of the following indicators of systematic manipulation of the publication process: Discrepancies in scope Discrepancies in the description of the research reported Discrepancies between the availability of data and the research described Inappropriate citations Incoherent, meaningless and/or irrelevant content included in the article Peer-review manipulation …”

“…This article has been retracted by Hindawi following an investigation undertaken by the publisher [1]. This investigation has uncovered evidence of one or more of the following indicators of systematic manipulation of the publication process:…”