Fig. 4

Low GSDME expression correlates with radioresistance and poor prognosis in NPC. A Schematic of specimens obtained from NPC via nasopharyngoscopy. B GSDME expression was analyzed by Western blotting in radiosensitive and radioresistant NPC tissues collected from 10 patients. GAPDH was used to normalize the amount of protein loaded. C Representative immunohistochemical images of GSDME low- and high- expression in NPC tissues (left and right, respectively). The magnified inset area is shown at the bottom. Scale bars represent 50 μm. D Percentage of GSDME low expression and high expression in NPC tissues (n = 150). Low GSDME expression, GSDME_L; High GSDME expression, GSDME_H. E The IHC score of GSDME in the radiosensitive and radioresistant tissues. F The correlation between GSDME expression and radiation therapy response. RS, radiosensitive; RR, radioresistant. G Association of GSDME expression with 5-year progression-free survival and 5-year locoregional recurrence-free survival was analyzed by Kaplan–Meier and Log Rank test. H Cox regression analysis of potential prognostic factors, including GSDME levels and other clinical characteristics. I Representative NPC cases received radiotherapy alone, showing the relationship between GSDME expression, serum LDH, and cancer regression. The yellow dashed lines indicate tumor in nasopharyngoscopy images. Scale bars represent 50 μm. RT, radiotherapy. J Representative NPC cases received chemoradiotherapy showing the relationship between GSDME expression, serum LDH, and cancer regression. The red lines indicate tumor tissue in magnetic resonance images. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001