Figure 6.

Zinc finger protein 148 (ZNF148) phosphorylation promotes tumor metastasis and correlates prognosis in SDHB‐deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). A, Representative tumor xenografts and liver sections with H&E and CD117 from the rZNF148 S306A group are shown (left panel). The number of visible metastatic lesions in the liver was quantified. Data represent the means ± SEM (n = 10), * represents P < 0.05 (Student’s t test) (right panel). B, Immunohistochemical staining of SDHB and ZNF148 were performed on 67 human GIST specimens. Representative photos are presented. Scale bar: 50 μm. C, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient test was used to assess the relationship between the expression level of SDHB and ZNF148 (R = −0.371, P = 0.002.). D, The progression free survival (PFS) times for 67 patients with negative SDHB staining (blue curve) versus positive SDHB staining (red curve) were compared. The Kaplan‐Meier method and log‐rank tests indicate the association of SDHB deficiency (P = 0.00096) with inferior PFS. E, Immunohistochemical staining of SDHB and ZNF148pS306 were performed on 67 human GIST specimens. Representative photos are presented. Scale bar: 50 μm. F, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient test was performed to assess the relationship between the expression level of SDHB and ZNF148 pS306 (R = −0.565, P < 0.001). G, The PFS times for 67 patients with negative low ZNF148 pS306 (blue curve) versus high ZNF148 pS306 (red curve) were compared. The Kaplan‐Meier method and log‐rank tests indicate the association of high ZNF148 pS306 (P = 0.031) with inferior PFS