Clinical significance of loss of Fhl1 expression in human gastric cancer

Ann Surg Oncol. 2008 Aug;15(8):2293-300. doi: 10.1245/s10434-008-9904-3. Epub 2008 May 9.

Abstract

Background: Human four-and-a-half LIM domains 1 (Fhl1) gene has been reported to achieve cancer suppressive effects. The purpose of this study is to clarify clinical significance of Fhl1 expression in gastric cancer.

Methods: Fhl1 mRNA expression was quantified by real-time reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using paired tumor and normal clinical samples from a total of 110 gastric cancer patients. Fhl1 protein expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between Fhl1 mRNA expression and clinicopathological factors was statistically analyzed.

Results: Fhl1 mRNA expression in tumor tissue was significantly downregulated compared with that in normal mucosa (P < 0.0001). Fhl1 protein expression was also diminished in cancer cells by immunohistochemistry. Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrated that the patients with low Fhl1 expression tumor showed significantly shorter survival (P < 0.05) than those with high Fhl1 expression tumor. Furthermore, the tumors with low Fhl1 expression showed deeper invasion into the serosal layer (P < 0.05) or more frequent distant metastasis (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Fhl1 gene was underexpressed in clinical gastric cancer. Loss of Fhl1 expression would be a novel biomarker to determine biological aggressiveness of gastric cancer.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • LIM Domain Proteins
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • FHL1 protein, human
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • LIM Domain Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins