The influence of transforming growth factor-α, cyclooxygenase-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7, MMP-9 and CXCR4 proteins involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition on overall survival of patients with gastric cancer.

Aims: Determination of prognostic parameters that are predictive of survival of gastric cancer (GC) may allow better identification of patients who could benefit from current chemotherapy regimens. To assess the correlation between tumour progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), we assayed the expression levels of selected molecules involved in EMT [CD44, transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7, MMP-9 and C-X-C chemokine receptor (CXCR4)], and correlated these with overall patient survival (OS) and disease stage.

Methods And Results: Medical records and pathological biopsy results of 137 patients with GC were evaluated retrospectively.