Expression Of Proto Onco Gene C-Kit And Cancer Associated Fiboblasts Are Associated With Metastatic Potential Of Human Gastric Cancer

Abstract

Background: The proto onco gene c-kit is a tyrosine kinase receptor plays significant role in embryo and postnatal development and also found to be expressed in solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been found to be involved in promoting tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. The aim of study was to establish the expression pattern of c-kit and specific markers for CAFs in gastric epithelium tissues and their correlation with clinicopathological factors to establish their possible role in prognosis of gastric cancer. Methods : Expression of c-kit and specific markers for CAF or proteins secreted by CAF were assessed by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining of paraffin–embedded tissues, and RT-PCR in 64 tumors (observed group) and 33 normal gastric samples. The clinical pathological data was statistically analyzed by chi-square methods. Result: The positive rate of c-kit and CAF protein expression in the observed group as 84.38% (54/64) and 96.88% (62/64) respectively. RT-PCR results also showed elevated expression of c-kit, α-SMA, Vimentin, SDF-1 in gastric cancer than that of normal gastric tissues. The expression of c-kit and α -SMA was correlated with age, & gender of patients, position, size, & depth of the tumor, lymphatic invasion and node metastasis. c-kit and α –SMA prevalence is significantly correlated with size, & depth of the tumor, lymphatic invasion and node metastasis (p<0.05). Conclusion: Overall this data suggest that increased expression of c-kit and CAFs might be attributed with disease progression; malignancy transformation of gastric epithelium cells and prognosis of gastric cancer.