Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2013; 19(48): 9425-9431
Published online Dec 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i48.9425
Overexpression of kallikrein gene 10 is a biomarker for predicting poor prognosis in gastric cancer
Xin Jiao, Hong-Jun Lu, Mi-Mi Zhai, Zhi-Jun Tan, Hai-Ning Zhi, Xiao-Man Liu, Chen-Hao Liu, Da-Peng Zhang
Xin Jiao, Hai-Ning Zhi, Xiao-Man Liu, Chen-Hao Liu, Department of General Surgery, the First Central Clinical School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300192, China
Hong-Jun Lu, Da-Peng Zhang, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Naikai Clinical School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300100, China
Mi-Mi Zhai, Department of Gastroenterology, Weifang People’s Hospital, Weifang 261041, Shandong Province, China
Zhi-Jun Tan, Department of General Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin 300192, China
Author contributions: Jiao X performed the majority of experiments and wrote the manuscript; Lu HJ, Zhai MM, Zhi HN, Liu XM and Liu CH designed the research and revised the manuscript; Zhang DP instructed the preparation of the manuscript; Tan ZJ provided experimental guidance.
Correspondence to: Da-Peng Zhang, PhD, MD, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Naikai Clinical School, Tianjin Medical University, No. 6, Changjiang Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300100, China. dapeng721115@126.com
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Received: August 18, 2013
Revised: October 15, 2013
Accepted: November 1, 2013
Published online: December 28, 2013
Abstract

AIM: To analyze the expression of kallikrein gene 10 (KLK10) in gastric cancer and to determine whether KLK10 has independent prognostic value in gastric cancer.

METHODS: We studied KLK10 expression in 80 histologically confirmed gastric cancer samples using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and hK10 expression using immunohistochemistry. Correlations with clinicopathological variables (lymph node metastasis, depth of invasion and histology) and with outcomes (disease-free survival and overall survival) during a median follow-up period of 31 mo were assessed. Gastric cancer tissues were then classified as KLK10 positive or negative.

RESULTS: KLK10 was found to be highly expressed in 57/80 (70%) of gastric cancer samples, while its expression was very low in normal gastric tissues. Positive relationships between KLK10 expression and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.048), depth of invasion (P = 0.034) and histology (P = 0.015) were observed. Univariate survival analysis revealed that gastric cancer patients with positive KLK10 expression had an increased risk for relapse/metastasis and death (P = 0.005 and 0.002, respectively). Cox multivariate analysis indicated that KLK10 was an independent prognostic indicator of disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with gastric cancer.

CONCLUSION: KLK10 expression is an independent biomarker of unfavorable prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.

Keywords: Kallikrein gene 10, Gastric cancer, Survival analysis, Prognostic biomarkers

Core tip: The study examined the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of kallikrein gene 10 (KLK10) expression in gastric cancer. Based on collective findings, we hypothesize that KLK10 expression in gastric cancer tissues may have prognostic/predictive value in patients with gastric cancer. KLK10 expression is an independent biomarker for predicting unfavorable prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.