title: Serum granulysin level as a novel prognostic marker in patients with gastric carcinoma.
abstract: 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.
authors: First Department of Surgery, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Japan.
authors: Susumu
authors: S
authors: Saigusa
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Ichikura
authors: Hironori
authors: H
authors: Tsujimoto
authors: Hidekazu
authors: H
authors: Sugasawa
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Majima
authors: Nobuaki
authors: N
authors: Kawarabayashi
authors: Kentaro
authors: K
authors: Chochi
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Ono
authors: Manabu
authors: M
authors: Kinoshita
authors: Shuhji
authors: S
authors: Seki
authors: Kazuyuki
authors: K
authors: Ogawa
authors: Hidetaka
authors: H
authors: Mochizuki
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015415:Biomarkers; C075005:GNLY protein, human; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; C507278:survival-related gene product, human