Fig. 8: Clinical relevance of LCN2, SPARC, and c-Jun in GC patients.

A SPARC mRNA expression was positively correlated with GC grade in our cohort (n = 59). B Detection of SPARC protein levels in GC tissues and their paired adjacent normal tissues using western blot (n = 10). C LCN2 protein expression was positively correlated with GC grade in our cohort. D TCGA and KM-plot database showing correlation between SPARC overexpression and poorer prognosis. E Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealing shorter overall survival times in patients with high SPARC expression in our cohort (n = 94, p < 0.001, log-rank test). F Correlation analysis between SPARC expression and CDH2, MMP2, and MMP9 expression in GC using the TCGA database. G Correlation analysis of LCN2 expression, SPARC expression and c-Jun expression in GC using the TCGA database. H Correlation analysis of LCN2, SPARC, and c-Jun mRNA expression in our cohort using RT-qPCR. I Negative correlation between LCN2 levels and p-JNK, c-Jun, and SPARC levels in GC specimens. Scale bars: 100 μm. J Illustrative model showing the proposed mechanism by which Tumor-secreted LCN2 impairs gastric cancer progression through autocrine inhibition of the 24p3R/JNK/c-Jun/SPARC axis. Data are presented as mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.