title: TPX2 expression is associated with poor survival in gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Targeting protein for Xenopus kinesin-like protein 2 (TPX2) is a microtubule-associated protein required for microtubule formation in human cells. Several studies have demonstrated that TPX2 is overexpressed in multiple tumor types and promotes tumor growth and metastasis. However, there have been few reports regarding its role in gastric cancer. In this study, we evaluated TPX2 expression and investigated its correlations with gastric cancer clinicopathological features and prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tumor samples were obtained from 290 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who had undergone gastrectomy. The expression of TPX2 protein was examined using immunohistochemical staining. TPX2 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were evaluated using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR in 19 of the gastric cancer tumors and adjacent normal tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mRNA levels of TPX2 were significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues than in matched adjacent normal tissues (p = 0.004). In the immunohistochemical analysis, TPX2 overexpression was found in 123 (42.4%) of 290 patients. High TPX2 expression was positively associated with age, type of histology, depth of tumor, lymph node metastasis, stage, and remote metastasis or recurrence. High TPX2 expression was significantly associated with poorer disease-specific survival (p = 0.004) and relapse-free interval (p = 0.013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated that high TPX2 expression was associated with tumor progression and poor survival in gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan.
authors.forename: Chiharu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tomii
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan. m-inokuchi.srg2@tmd.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Mikito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inokuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Specialties, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Specialties, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan.
authors.forename: Sho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otsuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Specialties, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uetake
authors.affiliation: Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawano
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000556:secondary; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000401:mortality*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C122167:TPX2 protein, human
keywords: Gastric cancer; Immunohistochemistry; Prognostic marker; TPX2