Fig. 1

Upregulation of MEX3C and downregulation of RUNX3 in LUAD. A The expression distribution of MEX3C gene in 24 type of tumor tissues and normal tissues. The abscissa represents different tumor tissues, and the ordinate represents the expression distribution of gene. B MEX3C and RUNX3 mRNA expression of tumor and normal tissues in LUAD datasets were analyzed using the TCGA + GTEx databases. C, D qRT-PCR was used to detected the MEX3C and RUNX3 mRNA levels in LUAD tissues and paired non-tumor tissues, n = 55. E, F MEX3C and RUNX3 mRNA expression in LUAD tissues at different stages and healthy subjects were detected using qRT-PCR. G Relative MEX3C mRNA levels were negatively correlated with relative RUNX3 mRNA levels in the LUAD tissues (r = − 0.6151, p < 0.0001). H Protein levels of MEX3C and RUNX3 in 3 pairs of clinical lung cancer specimens detected by western blotting. T and N indicate lung cancer tissue and paired adjacent normal tissue, respectively, n = 4. I Correlation analysis of MEX3C with CEA, SCCAg, Ki-67, and PCNA mRNA levels in the LUAD tissues via Pearson analysis. J H&E and IHC staining of MEX3C and RUNX3 in 3 pairs of NSCLC and adjacent samples, n = 3. Quantification of IHC staining. K, L Prognostic analysis of MEX3C and RUNX3 for LUAD. Bars represent mean ± SD. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01