Fig. 2
SCEL expression is significantly upregulated in TNBC tumors and correlates with the poor outcome of patients with TNBC. A Analysis of the survival correlation of the candidate proteins in TCGA breast cancer dataset using UCSC Xena platform. B Analysis of mRNA expression levels of top seven candidates, NT5E, RAP1GAP2, SDPR, SCEL, LPCAT2, SMURF2, and CTGF, in TNBC tumors versus non-TNBC tumors using UCSC Xena. *P < 0.01. C The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis of BC patients and TNBC patients based on SCEL expression. The Kaplan–Meier survival curves of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of breast cancer patients stratified by SCEL expression were generated by UCSC Xena using TCGA breast cancer dataset. The Kaplan–Meier survival curves of overall survival (OS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) of breast cancer patients stratified by SCEL expression were generated by KM plotter using 48 GSE datasets. The Kaplan–Meier survival curves of overall survival (OS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) of TNBC patients stratified by SCEL expression were similarly generated by KM plotter using 48 GSE datasets. D Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of SCEL protein expression in TNBC tissue microarrays (n = 191). Pearson Chi’s square test of the observed values and the expected values of the early/late-stage tumors with low and high SCEL expression (Χ2 = 22.32, P < 0.00001). Pearson Chi’s square test was similarly performed in the lower and higher-grade tumors with low and high SCEL expression (Χ2 = 0.38, P < 0.536). E H score of SCEL IHC staining of the early-stage and late-stage TNBC tumors. *P < 0.001. F H score of SCEL IHC staining of the lower and higher grade TNBC tumors. G H scores of SCEL IHC staining of TNBC (n = 191) and non-TNBC tumors (n = 82). *P < 0.001