title: The human epididymis protein 4 acts as a prognostic factor and promotes progression of gastric cancer.
abstract: Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), represented as an epididymis-specific gene and designated a WAP four-disulfide core domain protein 2 (WFDC2), is amplified in many tumors. However, little is known about its clinical significance and biological function in gastric carcinomas. We found that HE4 was more commonly observed in gastric carcinoma tissues than in normal tissues and was significantly correlated with Lauren classification, TNM stage, and tumor size by immunohistochemistry. The overall survival rate of patients with HE4 low expression was significantly higher than that of the patients with HE4 high expression. In addition, silencing of HE4 expression inhibits cell proliferation and migration and enhances cell apoptosis. Subsequent studies reveal that the Src, Akt, and Erk1/2 signaling may be involved with pro-survival and anti-apoptotic effects of the HE4 on gastric cancer cells. Taken together, this study provides new evidence on promotive effects of the HE4 on gastric cancer progression and indicates that HE4 might be a promising prognostic factor for gastric cancer diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Suzhou Health College, Suzhou, 215009, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yun-Di
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jing-Hao
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiao-Ning
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Xiao-Dan
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wen-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011506:Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000081102:WAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D000081102:WAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2; C569698:WFDC2 protein, human