Decreased expression of T-cadherin is associated with gastric cancer prognosis.

Background/aims: To investigate the expression status of truncated-cadherin (T-cadherin) and its clinicopathological significance in gastric cancer.

Methodology: Expression status of T-cadherin was detected in a total of 103 surgical specimens of gastric cancer and 34 corresponding normal gastric tissues by real-time qPCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Correlation between the expression of T-cadherin and clinicopathological factors of gastric cancer was analyzed.

Results: T-cadherin mRNA levels were significantly reduced in 29 (85.3%) tumor tissue samples, compared with levels in the adjacent normal tissue samples (p<0.01). This finding was confirmed by western blotting analysis (p<0.01) and immunohistochemistry analysis (p<0.01). Larger tumor size (diameter >4cm), lymph node metastasis, invasion into surrounding tissues, poor-differentiation and higher TNM stage of carcinoma were significantly correlated with decreased expression of T-cadherin (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that smaller tumor size (diameter =4cm), none lymph node metastasis, none invasion into surrounding tissues, well-differentiation, lower TNM stage and higher expression of T-cadherin were closely associated with increased overall survival (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that positive expression of T-cadherin was a most important independent risk factor in gastric cancer.

Conclusions: Expression of T-cadherin is an important independent prognostic predictor, which can be used as a biomarker of progression and prognosis in gastric cancer.