Extracellular matrix protein 1 is correlated to carcinogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of human gastric cancer.

Qiuwan Wu,Zhiming Zhang,Zhiming Zhang,Jun You,Jun You,Haiyan Yang,Haiyan Yang,Xiaohong Li,Xiaohong Li,Chuanhui Lu,Chuanhui Lu

doi:10.1186/1477-7819-12-132

Abstract

BackgroundTumor-induced lymphangiogenesis is a crucial step in malignant invasion and metastasis. Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) was recently reported to play a role in lymphangiogenesis. In the present work, we aimed to evaluate the role of ECM1 in gastric cancer and examined whether aberrant expression of ECM1 increased the tumorigenic and metastatic potential of human gastric cancer.MethodsThe mRNA and protein expression of ECM1 in gastric cancer specimen and the noncancerous counterparts from 77 patients were detected by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry staining. Lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) in the corresponding serial sections was assessed by counting the lymphatic microvessels labelled by D2-40. The correlations between ECM1 expression, LMVD, and the clinicopathological parameters were examined.ResultsECM1 protein expression was detected in 70.1% (54/77) of gastric cancer specimen, significantly higher than that in the corresponding counterparts (P <0.01). ECM1 mRNA in tumor specimen was also dramatically amplified. Elevated LMVD and ECM1 were positively correlated (P <0.01). In addition, ECM1 protein expression was also closely associated with depth of tumor invasion and TNM stage (P <0.05, respectively).ConclusionsECM1 expression is aberrant elevated in tumor specimen and is closely related to the tumorigenic and metastatic potential of human gastric cancer. Thus, carrying out the protein examination may be beneficial to predict carcinogenesis and metastatic spread of human gastric cancer.

Highlights

Tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis is a crucial step in malignant invasion and metastasis
Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) expression is aberrant elevated in tumor specimen and is closely related to the tumorigenic and metastatic potential of human gastric cancer
Tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis is a crucial step for tumor progression and has been demonstrated to be prior to the onset of lymphatic invasion and metastasis [1,2,3]

Summary

Introduction

Tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis is a crucial step in malignant invasion and metastasis. Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) was recently reported to play a role in lymphangiogenesis. Tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis is a crucial step for tumor progression and has been demonstrated to be prior to the onset of lymphatic invasion and metastasis [1,2,3]. Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) is a soluble protein, which was first identified in 1994 [9] Mutations in this gene were reported to be associated with lipoid proteinosis disorder (known as hyalinosis cutis et mucosae or Urbach-Wiethe disease), which is characterized by generalized thickening of skin, mucosa, and certain viscera [10]. Our previous study found that both ECM1 and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) have a synergistic effect on lymphangiogenesis, so as to facilitate lymphatic metastasis of breast cancer [13]. Whether ECM1 correlates to carcinogenesis and metastasis of gastric cancer has not yet been clarified

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