Relationship between dysregulation of STAT4 and clinicopathological significance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Background: Aberrant expression of STAT4 has been validated in different cancers. However, its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unidentified. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the clinical significance of STAT4 and its potential role in the carcinogenesis and deterioration of NPC. Materials and Methods: Expression of STAT4, as well as EGFR and P53 in 393 NPC patients and 54 benign nasopharyngeal diseases was detected by immunohistochemistry. Meanwhile, the correlation of STAT4 expression with a variety of clinicopathological features was analyzed. Results: The expression rate of STAT4 was significantly higher in NPC tissues (78.6%) than non-cancerous nasopharyngeal tissues (27.8%, Z = -7.836, P < 0.001). The area under curve (AUC) of STAT4 was 0.712 (95% CI: 0.611-0.813, P < 0.001) to diagnose squamous cell carcinoma of NPC. Expression of STAT4 was positively correlated to tumor infiltration (r = 0.392, P < 0.001), lymphatic metastasis (r = 0.289, P = 0.002), TNM clinical stage (r = 0.345, P < 0.001), EGFR (r = 0.267, P = 0.001) and P53 (r = 0.378, P < 0.001). Conclusion: STAT4 can be regarded as a potential diagnostic biomarker for NPC. It might be involved in the carcinogenesis and deterioration of NPC.