Differential expression of ABO in normal and tumor tissues: Implications for cancer biology and prognosis

Objectives: ABO, which is primarily recognized for determining blood types, shows variable expression patterns in different tissues and cancer types. This study investigated the relationship between gene expression and cancer, and assessed its potential impact on patient survival. Methods: Utilizing the GEPIA database, we analyzed ABO expression in normal and tumor tissues across various cancer types using online in silico tools for comprehensive evaluation. Results: The analysis revealed significant disparities in ABO expression among different tissue types. Notably, ovarian and thyroid tissues exhibited the highest expression of ABO, whereas the liver, thymus, and brain tissues showed relatively low expression. The expression patterns of ABO varied distinctly among cancer types, with ovarian and thyroid carcinomas demonstrating the most significant differences between tumor and normal tissues. Other cancers, including adrenocortical carcinoma, acute myeloid leukemia, and renal cell carcinoma, also exhibit notable variations in ABO expression. Low ABO expression was correlated with reduced survival rates in colorectal adenocarcinoma, stomach adenocarcinoma, and renal cancers, among others. Conclusions: These findings suggest the potential role of ABO in tumor development, as well as cancer progression and prognosis, underscoring the value of ABO as a biomarker for various cancers. This warrants further research for understanding the functional roles of ABO and its therapeutic implications to develop targeted cancer therapies and diagnostic tools.