ONCOmmunity

Decreased Expression of Tumor-suppressor Gene LKB1 Correlates with Poor Prognosis in Human Gastric Cancer.

By: Junjie Sun, Binxun Ling, Xinyu Xu, Rong Ma, Gang Li, Xinghua Cao, Wang Ling, Zhijian Yang, Robert M Hoffman, Jianwei Lu

Department of Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China Department of Oncology, Wuxi No.4 Hospital, Affiliated to Jiangnan University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China.
2016-3-16; doi:

Abstract

Background/aim

The present report describes the correlation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) expression with tumorigenesis and prognosis in gastric cancer.

Materials

LKB1 mRNA and protein expression was detected in gastric-cancer cell lines and patient specimens. Patients were followed-up and clinico-pathological parameters and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.

Results

The expression of LKB1 mRNA and protein was lower in gastric-cancer cell lines and tumor tissues compared to normal gastric cells (p<0.05) and tissues (p<0.001). Decreased expression of LKB1 mRNA and protein in patients with gastric cancer was significantly inversely related to TNM stage, T-stage (depth of invasion), lymph-node metastasis and vascular invasion (p<0.05). Patients showing high LKB1 mRNA and high LKB1 protein expression had a significantly longer OS and better 5-year survival rate than those with low mRNA expression (61.3 months vs. 56.1 months and 75% vs. 58.7%, p<0.05, respectively) and low protein expression (64.8 months vs. 55.7 months and 72.9% vs. 64.5%, p<0.05, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that both LKB1 mRNA and protein expression in gastric cancer were independent prognostic factors for OS.

Conclusion

Patients with gastric cancer with decreased expression of LKB1 have a poor prognosis with a lower survival rate.