Fig. 1

The expression of AREG in LSCC specimens is correlated with clinical staging and patient overall survival. (A, B) Representative IHC images of AREG expression in paraffin-embedded LSCC tumor sections (n = 68). Scale bar: 50 μm in Fig. 1A, 20 μm in Fig. 1B. (C-E) IHC score was higher in advanced T stages (T3 and T4) and advanced clinical stages (III and IV) than in early T stages (T1 and T2) and early clinical stages (I and II). (F) Accumulation of AREG in the tumor microenvironment predicted poor survival of patients with LSCC (Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test). Low AREG expression (n = 36) and high AREG expression (n = 32) groups are represented by red and blue lines, respectively. G) Higher Treg infiltration was founded in high AREG expression specimens than those in low AREG expression (n = 51). Data presented as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05