Table 2 Summary of the literature: RBM3 studies in human cancers
Author, year (ref no.) | Tumor type | Overall results (may include methods additional to IHC) | IHC quantification method | Data adjustment for analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jonsson et al., 2011 [2] | Melanoma | RBM3 is down-regulated in metastatic melanoma, and high nuclear RBM3 expression in the primary tumor is an independent marker of a prolonged OS. | Qualitative: when present, RBM3 was expressed in >75 % of the cells, so only the intensity of the staining was scored (0–3). | Samples with scores 0, 1, and 2 pooled together and compared to samples with score 3. |
Ehlen et al., 2010 [3] | Ovarian cancer | RBM3 expression is associated with cisplatin sensitivity in vitro and with a good prognosis. | Semi-quantitative (combined nuclear score): 4 scores for nuclear fraction (0–1 %, 2–25 %, 26–75 %, and >75 %) and 3 scores for nuclear staining intensity (negative, intermediate, and moderate-strong). | None. |
Jonsson et al., 2011 [4] | Prostate cancer | High RBM3 nuclear expression in prostate cancer is associated with a prolonged time to disease progression. | Semi-quantitative (combined nuclear score): 4 scores for nuclear fraction (0–1 %, 2–25 %, 26–75 %, and >75 %) and 4 scores for nuclear staining intensity (negative, intermediate, moderate, and strong). | RBM3 nuclear score was dichotomized into weak vs strong using classification and regression tree analysis (survival analyses). |
Jogi et al., 2009 [5] | Breast cancer | Increased nuclear expression of RBM3 was associated with a prolonged overall and recurrence-free survival. | Semi-quantitative (combined nuclear score): 4 scores for nuclear fraction (0–1 %, 2–25 %, 26–75 %, and >75 %) and 4 scores for nuclear staining intensity (negative, intermediate, moderate, and strong). | RBM3 nuclear score was dichotomized into <75 vs >75 % positive nuclear staining (calculated optimal cutoff). |
Nodin et al., 2012 [6] | Melanoma | RBM3 expression is an independent prognostic factor for melanoma-specific survival but not disease-free survival in the multivariable model. | Semi-quantitative (combined nuclear score): 4 scores for nuclear fraction (0–1 %, 2–25 %, 26–75 %, and >75 %) and 4 scores for nuclear staining intensity (negative, intermediate, moderate, and strong). | RBM3 nuclear score was dichotomized into low vs high. |
Ehlen et al., 2011 [7] | Ovarian cancer | Association between RBM3 expression and several cellular processes involved in the maintenance of DNA integrity. | Semi-quantitative (combined nuclear score): 4 scores for nuclear fraction (0–1 %, 2–25 %, 26–75 %, and >75 %) and 3 scores for nuclear staining intensity (negative, intermediate, and moderate-strong). | RBM3 nuclear score was dichotomized into low vs high. |
Boman et al., 2013 [18] | Urothelial bladder cancer | Loss of RBM3 expression is associated with clinically more aggressive tumors and an independent factor of poor prognosis. | Semi-quantitative (combined nuclear score): 4 scores for nuclear fraction (0–1 %, 2–25 %, 26–75 %, and >75 %) and 4 scores for nuclear staining intensity (negative, intermediate, moderate, and strong). | RBM3 nuclear score was trichotomized into negative, intermediate, and high (survival analyses) and dichotomized into negative vs positive or negative-intermediate vs high (relative risk of progression or death from disease analyses). |
Zhang et al., 2013 [20] | Astrocytoma | RBM3 overexpression may serve as an important molecular mechanism underlying astrocytic carcinogenesis and may have proliferative and/or proto-oncogenic functions. | Qualitative only: negative, weakly positive, moderately positive, and strongly positive. | None. |
Grupp et al., 2014 [22] | Prostate cancer | High RBM3 expression is an independent poor prognostic marker in prostate cancer. | Qualitative: scores combining the staining intensity and the fraction of positive tumor cells (negative, weak, moderate, and strong). | None. |
Jonsson et al., 2014 [23] | Esophageal and gastric adenocarcinomas | High expression of RBM3 independently predicts a reduced risk of recurrence and death. | Semi-quantitative (combined nuclear score): 4 scores for nuclear fraction (0–1 %, 2–25 %, 26–75 %, and >75 %) and 3 scores for nuclear staining intensity (negative, intermediate, and moderate-strong). | None for the comparison of RBM3 expression in various benign, malignant, and metastatic tissues. RBM3 nuclear score was dichotomized into low and high (survival analyses). |
Olofsson et al., 2015 [24] | Testicular non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) | Low RBM3 expression is an independent predictor of treatment failure in metastatic NSGCT. | Semi-quantitative (combined nuclear score): 4 scores for nuclear fraction (0–1 %, 2–25 %, 26–75 %, and >75 %) and 3 scores for nuclear staining intensity (negative, intermediate, and moderate-strong). | RBM3 nuclear score was dichotomized into weak vs strong using classification and regression tree analysis (survival analyses). |