Aberrant expression of intelectin-1 in gastric cancer: its relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2012 Jan;138(1):163-72. doi: 10.1007/s00432-011-1088-8. Epub 2011 Nov 15.

Abstract

Purposes: Human intelectin-1 (ITLN-1) is a novel identified galactose-binding lectin that is expressed in the colonic goblet cells. Since gastric adenocarcinomas can arise through a process of intestinalization, we speculate that ITLN-1 may be aberrantly expressed in gastric cancer. This study was undertaken to examine the ITLN-1 expression in gastric cancer and correlate it with clinical outcomes.

Methods: One hundred and ninety-six gastric cancer patients were evaluated for the ITLN-1 expression by immunohistochemistry. The ITLN-1 transcripts were measured by real-time quantitative PCR.

Results: ITLN-1 expression was absent in normal gastric mucosa, whereas areas of intestinal metaplasia revealed ITLN-1 immunoreactivity. One hundred and forty-two gastric cancer patients (72.4%) were positive for ITLN-1 expression. In a subtotal of 20 patients, ITLN-1 transcripts were significantly enhanced in gastric cancer tissues than in normal gastric mucosa (P < 0.001). The expression rate of ITLN-1 was higher in intestinal-type carcinomas than in diffuse-type carcinomas (P = 0.003). ITLN-1 positivity in gastric cancer was positively correlated with tumor differentiation (P = 0.001) and CDX2 expression (P < 0.001), and inversely correlated with depth of invasion (P = 0.007), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001), distant metastasis (P = 0.014), clinical stage (P = 0.006), Ki-67 expression (P = 0.001), and heparanase expression (P < 0.001), without correlation with age, gender, tumor location, or tumor size. In univariate and multivariate analyses, ITLN-1 was an independent prognostic factor for longer survival of gastric cancer patients (P = 0.001).

Conclusion: The aberrant ITLN-1 expression in gastric cancer is correlated with clinicopathological features and may be a useful prognostic factor for predicting the outcomes of gastric cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cell Growth Processes / physiology
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis*
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Female
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / biosynthesis
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Lectins / biosynthesis*
  • Lectins / genetics
  • Male
  • Metaplasia
  • Middle Aged
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • ITLN1 protein, human
  • Lectins