# Evaluation of GDF15 Significance as a Biomarker in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

## TL;DR

This study explores GDF15 as a potential biomarker for laryngeal cancer, suggesting it could help predict patient outcomes and guide treatment.

## Contribution

The study is the first to evaluate GDF15 as a prognostic biomarker in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma using both tissue samples and public datasets.

## Key findings

- High GDF15 expression correlates with lower cancer stage and better survival outcomes in laryngeal cancer patients.
- GDF15 is identified as an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
- Elevated GDF15 levels may aid in risk stratification and could inform treatment decisions for early-stage disease.

## Abstract

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common head and neck cancer with limited survival rates despite advances in treatment options. Identifying reliable biomarkers could improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes. In this study, we investigated the growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a protein with roles in various cancers, to determine its significance in LSCC. By analyzing tissue samples from patients and public datasets, we assessed whether GDF15 expression correlated with clinical factors and survival outcomes. Our findings suggest that GDF15 may serve as a prognostic biomarker for LSCC, potentially aiding in patient stratification and treatment planning. This research contributes to a better understanding of GDF15’s role in cancer and highlights its potential utility in improving LSCC management. Future studies could build on these insights to explore GDF15’s role as a therapeutic target.

Background/Objectives: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common malignancy with unsatisfactory survival rates, highlighting the need for reliable biomarkers to improve its diagnosis and prognosis. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a protein implicated in various cancers, has not been thoroughly investigated in LSCC. This study aimed to evaluate the significance of GDF15 expression in LSCC by integrating immunohistochemical analysis of archival tissue samples with RNA sequencing data from public databases (TCGA and GEO) to provide comprehensive clinical insights. Methods: We analyzed archival tissue samples from 65 patients with LSCC using immunohistochemistry and evaluated GDF15 expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Statistical analyses included Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression to assess the correlation between GDF15 expression, clinicopathological variables, and survival outcomes. Results: GDF15 expression did not significantly differ between tumor and adjacent normal tissues. However, in the tissue macroarray (TMA) cohort, high GDF15 expression was significantly associated with a lower TNM stage and less advanced pT status. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that high GDF15 expression correlated with reduced overall survival in the TMA cohort, suggesting its utility in risk stratification. Multivariate analysis identified GDF15 as an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival in LSCC. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that GDF15 may serve as a prognostic biomarker for LSCC, particularly in early-stage disease. Elevated GDF15 levels, which are associated with poorer overall survival, could be integrated into diagnostic panels to enhance risk stratification and inform treatment decisions. Furthermore, GDF15 may be a promising target for therapeutic intervention. Further research is warranted to validate these results and explore their potential in clinical practice.