Thymosin β4 is a novel potential prognostic marker in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

Thymosin beta‐4 (Tβ4) is a major actin‐sequestering molecule that contributes to cell growth, differentiation, motility, survival, mitosis and angiogenesis. It is overexpressed in certain type of carcinoma and fibrosarcoma cell lines and is associated with metastatic potential. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Tβ4 expression and clinicopathologic features and VEGF status in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Retrospectively, 60 GISTs were re‐examined and immunohistochemistry for Tβ4 and VEGF was performed. Increased expression of Tβ4 and VEGF was observed in 26 (43.3%) and in 19 (31.6%) of the tumors, respectively. Tβ4 expression was positively correlated with VEGF expression (p