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Neurotrophic receptor, tropomyosin‐related kinase B as an independent prognostic marker in gastric cancer patients
Author(s) -
Tanaka Koji,
Mohri Yasuhiko,
Nishioka Junji,
Kobayashi Minako,
Ohi Masaki,
Miki Chikao,
Tonouchi Hitoshi,
Nobori Tsutomu,
Kusunoki Masato
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.21232
Subject(s) - tropomyosin receptor kinase b , medicine , cancer , univariate analysis , oncology , neurotrophin , multivariate analysis , receptor , gastroenterology , pathology , neurotrophic factors
Background and Objectives Neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase TrkB has been associated with clinical outcome and chemotherapy resistance in neuroblastoma and certain human malignancies. Recent studies have focused on the association between metastatic potential and TrkB expression in tumor cells. Methods To determine the role of TrkB in gastric cancer, we analyzed TrkB mRNA levels by real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 90 patients with gastric cancer. TrkB levels were correlated with clinicopathological variables. The association between TrkB and overall survival was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The mean TrkB level in gastric cancer tissue was 2.96 (range, 0–27.1). Thirty‐eight (42%) of 90 patients showed detectable TrkB levels, whereas the remainder had no detectable TrkB. There was no significant association between clinicopathological variables and TrkB positivity. TrkB level was significantly associated with extent of lymph node metastasis in node positive patients ( P = 0.03). TrkB positivity (n = 38) was significantly correlated with worse patient survival ( P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis showed TrkB to be an independent prognostic parameter for overall survival ( P = 0.04). Conclusions TrkB is an independent prognostic marker in patients with gastric cancer and appears to be associated with metastatic potential. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;99:307–310. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.