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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 21, 2007; 13(39): 5261-5266
Published online Oct 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i39.5261
Expression of periostin and its clinicopathological relevance in gastric cancer
Jun-Sheng Li, Guang-Wen Sun, Xiao-Ying Wei, Wen-Hao Tang
Jun-Sheng Li, Guang-Wen Sun, Wen-Hao Tang, Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Zhong-Da Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
Xiao-Ying Wei, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Zhong-Da Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Zhong-Da Hospital Project 2005, No. 2005YJ07
Correspondence to: Dr. Jun-Sheng Li, Department. of General Surgery, Affiliated Zhong-Da Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China. lijunshenghd@126.com
Telephone: +86-25-83272204
Received: June 16, 2007
Revised: July 25, 2007
Accepted: August 19, 2007
Published online: October 21, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression and localization of periostin in gastric cancer and its clinical relevance.

METHODS: Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to measure periostin mRNA expression. Western blotting was carried out to detect periostin protein expression. Immunohistochemistry was performed to localize and quantify the expression of periostin in benign gastric diseases and gastric cancer, and immunostaining results were correlated with gastric cancer pathological stages.

RESULTS: Periostin expression was low at both mRNA and protein levels in normal gastric tissues, but was overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that periostin was overexpressed in primary gastric cancer, as well as in metastatic lymph nodes, but only faint staining was found in benign gastric ulcers. By quantitative analysis of the immunostaining results, periostin expression was increased 2.5-4-fold in gastric cancer, compared to that in benign gastric disease, and there was a trend toward increasing periostin expression with tumor stage.

CONCLUSION: This observation demonstrated that periostin was overexpressed in gastric cancer and lymph node metastasis, which suggests that periostin plays an important role in the progression and metastasis of gastric cancer.

Keywords: Cell growth; Gastric cancer; Metastasis; Oncogene; Periostin