Decreased expression of gastrokine 1 in gastric mucosa of gastric cancer patients

AIM: To investigate the expression of gastrokine 1(GKN1) in normal gastric mucosa, precancerous lesions and gastric cancer tissues, and to analyse its correlations with tumour site and pathological pattern.METHODS: Thirty gastric cancer patients(12 cases of diffuse type and 18 cases of intestinal type), 13 atrophic gastritis patients and 15 healthy volunteers with almost normal gastric mucosa(superficial gastritis) were enrolled in this study. Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection was examined in all subjects. All gastric mucosa biopsy specimens were obtained. Cancer-adjacent specimens were taken from corresponding gastric cancer patients. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR were performed to determine the expressions of the GKN1 protein and m RNA, respectively.RESULTS: H. pylori infection had no significant association with age, gender, tumour site or pathological pattern in all subjects. Compared with the superficial gastritis and atrophic gastritis groups, the expression of GKN1 protein(P = 0.011) and m RNA(P < 0.001) in gastric cancer was significantly decreased. The GKN1 m RNA level in diffuse type gastric cancer was significantly lower than in intestinal type gastric cancer(0.296 ± 0.076 vs 0.525 ± 0.164, P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: Compared with almost normal gastric mucosa, GKN1 expression in the gastric mucosa of gastric cancer patients is decreased; this is associated with progression and prognosis of gastric cancer.