Prognostic role of myeloid cell leukemia-1 protein (Mcl-1) expression in human gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
Myeloid cell leukemia-1 protein (Mcl-1), an anti-apoptotic member of Bcl-2 family, has been reported to be correlated with tumor progression. The purpose of this study was to establish the prognostic value of Mcl-1 expression in human gastric cancer.


METHODS
Western blot assay was performed to detect the expression of Mcl-1 protein in human gastric cancer cell lines and tissues, while Mcl-1 expression in resected gastric cancer tissue samples was analysed by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
The level of Mcl-1 protein expression in gastric cancer cell lines was significantly higher than that in gastric mucosa epithelial cell line. Moreover, the expression level of Mcl-1 protein was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues than corresponding noncancerous tissues. Expression was correlated with T classification (P = 0.003), metastasis (P = 0.001), clinical stage (P = 0.010), and venous invasion (P = 0.004). Patients with high Mcl-1 expression showed poorer 5-year overall survival than patients with low Mcl-1 expression (P = 0.012; log-rank test). Further univariate and multivariate analysis suggested that high Mcl-1 expression was an independent prognostic marker for the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Mcl-1 is highly upregulated in gastric cancer and high Mcl-1 expression is correlated with a poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients. Thus, Mcl-1 can be utilized as an independent prognostic factor.
Likui
Wang
W
Department of Microbiology, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command, PLA, Nanjing, China. kui_li2008@yahoo.com.cn
Qun
Liu
L
Wanqing
Zhou
Z
Haifeng
Shao
S
Fangqiu
Li
L
Xiaojun
Li
L
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D064549:Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D064549:Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2