title: Expression of BMP-7 in human gastric cancer and its clinical significance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) is a signalling molecule belonging to the transforming growth factor--superfamily. Recent studies have demonstrated the clinical impact of BMP-7 expression in various human cancers. However, there have been few reports detailing this in gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We immunohistochemically investigated the expression of BMP-7 in 233 gastric cancer patients to disclose the clinicopathological features of BMP-7-positive gastric cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemically, in human gastric cancer, BMP-7 expression was identified in cellular membranes but also in the cytoplasm of cancer cells. Bone morphogenetic protein-7-positive expression was found in 129 of 233 patients (55%). Bone morphogenetic protein-7 expression was correlated with tumour size, nodal involvement, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion and histology (P<0.05). Bone morphogenetic protein-7 expression was significantly correlated with patient postoperative outcome, especially in the undifferentiated group. Multivariate analysis revealed BMP-7 expression as one of the independent prognostic factors next to the depth of invasion and nodal involvement (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the data collected, it would be appropriate to conclude on the possible regulation of gastric cancer progression by autocrine or paracrine BMP-7 loops. We can use BMP-7 expression as one of the strong predictors of risk of tumour recurrence in gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Digestive Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Kagoshima University School of Medicine, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan. masaya46@m.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishigami
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uenosono
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arigami
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchikado
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kita
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurahara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Natsugoe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: C525819:BMP7 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7