Expression of DNA damage response proteins in gastric cancer: Comprehensive protein profiling and histological analysis

Gastric cancer is the third major cause of cancer-related mortality in Japan. The aim of this study was to identify a factor implicated in the biology of gastric cancer by comprehensive protein profiling. Protein profiling was carried out by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of 17 gastric cancer cases. Pathway analysis and orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis suggested the significant expression of ribonucleoproteins, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins, interleukin binding factor 2 (ILF2), KU70 and KU80, which are involved in DNA damage response (DDR). Thus, the expression and phosphorylation levels of KU70, ILF2, CHK1 and CHK2 were examined by immunohistochemistry in 42 cases of gastric cancer. The expressions of ILF2 and CHK1 were unaffected in all cases. The expression and phosphorylation of CHK2 were absent in 2 cases. Despite the expression of proteins, the phosphorylation of KU70 and CHK2 appeared to be impaired in 1 and 4 cases, respectively. In 7 out of 42 cases (17%), DDR appeared to be impaired. Recurrence was noted in 2 out of these 7 cases (29%), whereas the recurrence was noted in 2 out of the remaining 35 cases (6%). The expression levels of KU70, ILF2, CHK1, CHK2 and TP53 were further examined in 4 gastric cancer cell lines. The expression and phosphorylation levels following exposure to ultraviolet radiation were abnormal in the 3 cell lines. The normal consecutive phosphorylation of CHK1 and CHK2, the upregulation of TP53 and an increase in apoptotic cell death following exposure to ultraviolet radiation was detected only in one cell line, suggesting that the preserved functions of DDR and TP53 are necessary for the determination of cell fate. It is thus suggested that DDR plays an important role in the pathobiology of gastric cancers.