Serum granulysin level as a novel prognostic marker in patients with gastric carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Granulysin is a cytolytic molecule present in human cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cell granules, and plays a key role in the cell-mediated immunity against tumor and infection. However, few studies have estimated serum granulysin concentrations in patients with solid or hematological malignancies.


METHODS
Peripheral blood samples were taken from patients with gastric carcinoma preoperatively and from healthy volunteers. Serum and tumor tissue granulysin concentrations were measured using a granulysin-specific ELISA kit in order to assess its prognostic value.


RESULTS
Both serum and tumor tissue granulysin concentrations were higher in patients with stage II or III gastric cancer and lower in patients with stage IV disease as compared to healthy controls. The low preoperative granulysin levels were associated with more frequent hepatic and peritoneal metastases, and with a poor outcome of the curative gastrectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative serum granulysin levels reflect the status of cell-mediated immunity in patients with gastric carcinoma. It has significance as a prognostic determinant following a curative resection.
Saigusa
Susumu
S
First Department of Surgery, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan.
Ichikura
Takashi
T
Tsujimoto
Hironori
H
Sugasawa
Hidekazu
H
Majima
Takashi
T
Kawarabayashi
Nobuaki
N
Chochi
Kentaro
K
Ono
Satoshi
S
Kinoshita
Manabu
M
Seki
Shuhji
S
Ogawa
Kazuyuki
K
Mochizuki
Hidetaka
H
D000368:Aged; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015415:Biomarkers; C075005:GNLY protein, human; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; C507278:survival-related gene product, human