Prognostic value of nm23 in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
OBJECTIVE
nm23 is suggested to represent a new class of metastasis suppressor genes. An inverse correlation between nm23 expression level and metastatic potential has been demonstrated in different malignancies. This study evaluated the prognostic value of nm23 in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).


METHODS
Immunohistochemical expression level of nm23 was studied in a total of 32 patients with localized GISTs. The relationship between the expression level of nm23 and patient outcome was investigated.


RESULTS
A tumor size of 10 cm or more and a mitotic rate of 10 or more per 50 high-power fields were not significantly associated with the metastasis risk (p = 0.60 and 0.55, respectively). Tumors with high expression of nm23 tended to have significantly lower metastatic potential (p = 0.02). The median survival was significantly longer in patients with high expression of nm23 (p = 0.007).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that expression level of nm23 may be considered as a prognostic predictor in GISTs. Future studies with larger patient numbers will be essential to confirm the prognostic significance of nm23 in patients with GIST.
Kanat
Ozkan
O
Department of Medical Oncology, Uludag University Faculty of Medicine, Gorukle 16059, Bursa, Turkey. ozkanat@uludag.edu.tr
Adim
Saduman
S
Evrensel
Turkkan
T
Yerci
Omer
O
Ediz
Bulent
B
Kurt
Ender
E
Demiray
Mutlu
M
Gonullu
Guzin
G
Arslan
Murat
M
Manavoglu
Osman
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D011379:Prognosis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D011506:Proteins; C517938:NME1 protein, human; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase