The role of STC2 in promoting tumor proliferation and metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma and its impact on prognosis

METHODS We analyzed STC2 expression and its biological functions in PTC using the GSE65144, GSE33630, and TCGA datasets. Transwell and wound-healing assays were performed to assess the effects of STC2 knockdown on the invasion and migration abilities of PTC cells (KTC-1 and TPC-1). Additionally, the ESTIMATE algorithm was employed to evaluate the correlation between STC2 expression and the immune microenvironment in PTC.RESULTS Analysis of the GSE65144, GSE33630, and TCGA datasets revealed that STC2 expression was significantly higher in PTC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues, and its overexpression was closely associated with poor patient prognosis. Furthermore, ESTIMATE analysis suggested that high STC2 expression might correlate with reduced immune cell infiltration, indicating that STC2 could promote tumor immune evasion by suppressing immune responses in the tumor microenvironment. Functional experiments demonstrated that STC2 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of KTC-1 and TPC-1 cells, whereas its overexpression enhanced these malignant behaviors. Further analysis revealed that high STC2 expression was linked to increased p53 mutation rates and activation of multiple metabolic pathways, suggesting that STC2 may drive tumor progression by regulating genetic mutations and metabolic reprogramming.CONCLUSION In summary, STC2 may significantly influence the clinical behavior of PTC by modulating the immune microenvironment, cell migration, and metabolic pathways. These findings highlight the critical role of STC2 in PTC and suggest its potential value as a biomarker and therapeutic target.AIM Although papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) generally has a favorable prognosis, some patients still face risks of recurrence and metastasis. This study aimed to investigate the expression and functional role of STC2 (Stanniocalcin 2) in PTC, as well as its potential as a biomarker or therapeutic target.