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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 7, 2008; 14(13): 2110-2114
Published online Apr 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.2110
Expression of connective tissue growth factor in tumor tissues is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer
Lu-Ying Liu, Yan-Chun Han, Shu-Hua Wu, Zeng-Hua Lv
Lu-Ying Liu, Yan-Chun Han, Shu-Hua Wu, Department of Pathology, Binzhou Medical Collage, Binzhou 256603, Shandong Province, China
Zeng-Hua Lv, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical Collage, Binzhou 256603, Shandong Province, China
Author contributions: Liu LY, Han YC, Wu SH and Lv ZH designed the research; Liu LY, Han YC and Lv ZH performed the research; Wu SH contributed to the new reagents/analytic tools; Liu LY analyzed the data; Liu LY wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Lu-Ying Liu, PhD, Department of Pathology, Binzhou Medical Collage, 522 Huang-He Third Road, Binzhou 256603, Shandong Province, China. llixq@126.com
Telephone: +86-543-3256654
Fax: +86-543-3257752
Received: November 6, 2007
Revised: January 30, 2008
Published online: April 7, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To examine the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), also known as CCN2, in gastric carcinoma (GC), and the correlation between the expression of CTGF, clinicopathologic features and clinical outcomes of patients with GC.

METHODS: One hundred and twenty-two GC patients were included in the present study. All patients were followed up for at least 5 years. Proteins of CTGF were detected using the Powervision two-step immunostaining method.

RESULTS: Of the specimens from 122 GC patients analyzed for CTGF expression, 58 (58/122, 47.5%) had a high CTGF expression in cytoplasm of gastric carcinoma cells and 64 (64/122, 52.5%) had a low CTGF expression. Patients with a high CTGF expression showed a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis than those with a low CTGF expression (P = 0.032). Patients with a high CTGF expression had significantly lower 5-year survival rate than those with a low CTGF expression (27.6% vs 46.9%, P = 0.0178), especially those staging I + II + III (35.7% vs 65.2%, P = 0.0027).

CONCLUSION: GC patients with an elevated CTGF expression have more lymph node metastases and a shorter survival time. CTGF seems to be an independent prognostic factor for the successful differentiation of high-risk GC patients staging I + II + III. Over-expression of CTGF in human GC cells results in an increased aggressive ability.

Keywords: Connective tissue growth factor; Gastric cancer; Prognosis; Lymph node metastasis