Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) is a signalling molecule belonging to the transforming growth factor — superfamily. Recent studies have demonstrated the clinical impact of BMP-7 expression in various human cancers. However, there have been few reports detailing this in gastric cancer.

We immunohistochemically investigated the expression of BMP-7 in 233 gastric cancer patients to disclose the clinicopathological features of BMP-7-positive gastric cancer.

Immunohistochemically, in human gastric cancer, BMP-7 expression was identified in cellular membranes but also in the cytoplasm of cancer cells. Bone morphogenetic protein-7-positive expression was found in 129 of 233 patients (55%). Bone morphogenetic protein-7 expression was correlated with tumour size, nodal involvement, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion and histology (P<0.05). Bone morphogenetic protein-7 expression was significantly correlated with patient postoperative outcome, especially in the undifferentiated group. Multivariate analysis revealed BMP-7 expression as one of the independent prognostic factors next to the depth of invasion and nodal involvement (P<0.01).

From the data collected, it would be appropriate to conclude on the possible regulation of gastric cancer progression by autocrine or paracrine BMP-7 loops. We can use BMP-7 expression as one of the strong predictors of risk of tumour recurrence in gastric cancer.

British Journal of Cancer advance online publication, 11 January 2011; doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6606075 www.bjcancer.com.

PMID: 21224856 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] Source: National Library of Medicine.