title: STAT-3 correlates with lymph node metastasis and cell survival in gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between gastric cancer growth and signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the expressions of STAT3, phosphor-STAT3 (pSTAT3), suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1), survivin and Bcl-2 in gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy by immunohistochemical method. In addition, in situ hybridization was used to further demonstrate the mRNA expression of STAT3 in gastric cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the univariate analysis, expressions of STAT3, pSTAT3, SOCS-1, survivin and Bcl-2, the size of primary tumor and the lymph node metastasis were found to be associated with the overall survival (OS) of gastric cancer patients. However, only pSTAT3 expression and the lymph node metastasis were identified as the independent factors of OS of gastric cancer with multivariate analysis. STAT3 expression was correlated with the lymph node metastasis. There were positive correlations between expressions of STAT3, survivin, Bcl-2 and pSTAT3 in gastric cancer, whereas there was negative correlation between STAT3 expression and SOCS-1 expression in gastric cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STAT3 can transform into pSTAT3 to promote the survival and inhibit the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. SOCS-1 might be the valid molecular antagonist to inhibit the STAT3 expression in gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastric Oncology Division, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital and City Key Laboratory of Tianjin Cancer Center, Tianjin 300060, China. dengery@sohu.com
authors.forename: Jing-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiang-Yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000077022:Survivin
chemical_list: C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C108944:SOCS1 protein, human; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D000077022:Survivin