High DcR3 expression predicts stage pN2-3 in gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
A soluble decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), also known as TR6 or M68, is a member of the TNF receptor family. It has been reported that high DcR3 expression occurs in many tumors.


METHODS
This prospective study evaluated the DcR3 tissue status by RT-PCR and its correlation with the lymph node (N) stages in 62 primary gastric cancers.


RESULTS
DcR3 expression levels in patients with pN2-3 disease were much higher than those in patients with pN0-1 disease (median values 1.31 vs. 0, P < 0.01). Using ROC analysis, a cutoff level of DcR3 expression at 1.20 was found to be associated with optimal sensitivity and specificity of 62.5% (15 of 24) and 92.1% (35 of 38) respectively, in the prediction of stage pN2-3. According to the cutoff value, patients were divided into 2 groups with relatively high and low levels of DcR3 expression. Among the 18 patients with high DcR3 expression, 83.3% (15 of 18) were staged as pN2-3. In the other 44 patients with low DcR3 expression, only 20.5% (9 of 44) were identified as pN2-3. Logistic regression analysis for stage pN2-3 revealed that high DcR3 expression was an independent risk factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastric cancer patients with high DcR3 expression presented more advanced pN2-3 disease than those with low DcR3 expression. Preoperative checking DcR3 expression might be an additional approach to imaging modalities for evaluating N stages in gastric cancer to guide the operative procedures.
Wu
Yulian
Y
Department of Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. wuyulian@medmail.com.cn
Guo
Enqi
E
Yu
Junxiu
J
Xie
Qiuping
Q
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D053323:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
D053323:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b