[Expression of doublecortin-like kinase 1 in human gastric cancer and its correlation with prognosis].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of doublecortin-like kinase 1(DCLK1)in gastric cancer and its prognostic significance. METHODS: The expression of DCLK1 was examined by immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 122 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between July 2002 and December 2006. Survival curves were described by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the Log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed with the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The expression of DCLK1 in tumor cells was significantly upregulated in 51 of 122 patients. High expression of DCLK1 in tumor cells was strongly correlated with pN stage(P=0.029)and lymphovascular invasion(P=0.029). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with DCLK1 high expression had a significantly lower 5-year overall survival(OS)rate than that of patients with DCLK1 low expression(39. 0% vs. 65. 8%, P=0.001), as well as a significantly lower 5-year disease-free survival(DFS)rate(37. 0% vs. 64. 5%, P=0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that DCLK1 expression(both P=0.036)was an independent factor for predicting OS and DFS rate. CONCLUSIONS: High expression of DCLK1 in gastric cancer cells is associated with pN stage and lymphovascular invasion. It may be a predictor for poor survival in patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer.