Expressions and Clinical Significance of Runx3,Smad4,Cdk2 and p21 in Gastric Cancer / 胃肠病学

ABSTRACT

Background:Tissue microarray has been increasingly used in research of malignancies. It has been revealed that TGF-β signaling pathway contributes to the tumorigenesis and progress of malignancies. Aims:To determine the expressions of Runx3,Smad4,Cdk2 and p21,the key molecules in TGF-β signaling pathway by tissue microarray,and investigate their correlations with clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer. Methods:A total of 378 paraffin embedded tissue blocks,including 130 gastric cancer tissue and 248 para-cancer tissue from 130 patients undergoing radical resection of gastric cancer were obtained. Tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the expressions of Runx3,Smad4,Cdk2 and p21. Results:The aberrant expression rates of Runx3,Smad4, Cdk21 and p21 in gastric cancer tissue were significantly higher than those in para-cancer tissue(67. 7% ,35. 4% , 63. 8% and 70. 0% vs. 14. 1% ,12. 5% ,18. 1% and 37. 1% ,P < 0. 05,respectively). Aberrant expression of Runx3 was closely correlated with histological grade and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer( P < 0. 05),while aberrant expressions of Smad4 and p21 were correlated with histological grade only(P < 0. 05);aberrant expression of Cdk2 was correlated with histological grade,lymph node metastasis and TNM staging(P < 0. 05). Pairwise correlations were seen among aberrant expressions of Runx3,Smad4 and p21 in gastric cancer,while Cdk2 was correlated with Runx3 only. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that 5-year survival rates in Runx3,Smad4 and p21 aberrant expression groups were significantly lower than those in normal expression groups(P <0. 05). Furthermore,Cox proportional hazard model indicated that Runx3 and Smad4 were independent prognostic factors for gastric cancer. Conclusions:Runx3,Smad4,Cdk2 and p21 might play pivotal roles in tumorigenesis and progression of gastric cancer. As interactions occurred among these four proteins,whether Runx3 and Smad4 could be used for predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer needs to be further studied.