Expression of periostin and its clinicopathological relevance in gastric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression and localization of periostin in gastric cancer and its clinical relevance.


METHODS
Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to measure periostin mRNA expression. Western blotting was carried out to detect periostin protein expression. Immunohistochemistry was performed to localize and quantify the expression of periostin in benign gastric diseases and gastric cancer, and immunostaining results were correlated with gastric cancer pathological stages.


RESULTS
Periostin expression was low at both mRNA and protein levels in normal gastric tissues, but was overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that periostin was overexpressed in primary gastric cancer, as well as in metastatic lymph nodes, but only faint staining was found in benign gastric ulcers. By quantitative analysis of the immunostaining results, periostin expression was increased 2.5-4-fold in gastric cancer, compared to that in benign gastric disease, and there was a trend toward increasing periostin expression with tumor stage.


CONCLUSIONS
This observation demonstrated that periostin was overexpressed in gastric cancer and lymph node metastasis, which suggests that periostin plays an important role in the progression and metastasis of gastric cancer.
Li
Jun-Sheng
JS
Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Zhong-Da Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China. lijunshenghd@126.com
Sun
Guang-Wen
GW
Wei
Xiao-Ying
XY
Tang
Wen-Hao
WH
D000368:Aged; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C512835:POSTN protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger