[Reappraisal of the impacts of human Runt-related transcription factor gene 3 expression on differentiation and prognosis of gastric cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of Runt-related transcription factor gene 3(RUNX3) in gastric cancer and its impact on the outcome of gastric cancer patients.


METHODS
By using immunohistochemistry staining and western blot assay, the expression of RUNX3 protein in 66 cases of gastric cancer with various clinicopathologic characteristics were detected, and the effects of RUNX3 protein expression on the outcome of patients undergone surgical resection were evaluated.


RESULTS
(1) The expression rate of RUNX3 protein in gastric cancer lesions was 60.6% (40/66), and RUNX3 protein was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of cancer cells. RUNX3 protein expression in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in non-tumor tissues. (2) RUNX3 protein expression was correlated with tumor differentiation (P=0.025) and Lauren's classification (P=0.034), but had no relationship with the TNM stage (P=0.085). (3) In sharp contrast, the median survival time of patients who had tumors with negative and positive RUNX3 protein expression were 2478 and 2187 days respectively (P=0.016).


CONCLUSIONS
RUNX3 protein influences the differentiation of gastric cancer. The role of RUNX3 protein as a tumor-suppressor in tumorigenesis and differentiation of gastric carcinoma need to be further evaluated.
Wu
Bei-wen
BW
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Ruijin Hospital, Medical School of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, China. cwx302@yahoo.com.cn.
Zhang
Jun
J
Fei
Xu-feng
XF
Zhu
Zheng-gang
ZG
Cao
Wei-xin
WX
D000368:Aged; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D050677:Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*
D050677:Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit; C493729:Runx3 protein, human