Abstract
BackgroundNerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor which regulates cell development and proliferation. Recently, it has been suggested that NGF induces heme oxygenase-1 (HO1) expression, and that both NGF and HO1 are involved in the progression of malignant human tumors. However, exact roles of NGF and HO1 in tumorigenesis remain controversial. Therefore, we investigated the expression and correlation of NGF and HO1 in human gastric carcinoma tissues.MethodsWe examined immunohistochemical expression of NGF and HO1 in 167 gastric carcinomas and compared with various prognostic clinicopathological factors.ResultsThe expression of NGF and HO1 was positive in 40% (67/167) and 51% (85/167) of cases, respectively, and their expression was significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.001). Individual expression patterns of NGF and HO1, and co-expression pattern of these two molecules were significantly associated with shorter survival by univariate analysis. HO1 expression (overall survival; p < 0.001, relapse-free survival; p = 0.002) and co-expression pattern of NGF and HO1 (overall survival; p = 0.002, relapse-free survival; p = 0.003) were independent poor prognostic indicators of gastric carcinoma patients by multivariate analysis.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that the individual and co-expression patterns of NGF and HO1 might be used as prognostic indicators for gastric carcinoma patients.
Highlights
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor which regulates cell development and proliferation
Thereafter, we evaluated the expression of NGF and heme oxygenase-1 (HO1) as a prognostic indicator for gastric carcinoma patients
The relationship between NGF and HO1 in the resistance to stress might be a mechanism for the progression of malignant human tumors. Supportive of this hypothesis, we found that the expressions of both NGF and HO1 were significantly associated with shorter survival of gastric carcinoma patients
Summary
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor which regulates cell development and proliferation. It has been suggested that NGF induces heme oxygenase-1 (HO1) expression, and that both NGF and HO1 are involved in the progression of malignant human tumors. Exact roles of NGF and HO1 in tumorigenesis remain controversial. Noh et al Diagnostic Pathology (2017) 12:48 expression patterns of NGF or TrkA were associated with poor prognosis of tongue cancer [9], pancreatic cancer [7], and breast cancer [5, 11]. The expression of HO1 has been demonstrated to be anti-apoptotic [16, 17], pro-angiogenetic [18] and associated with increased invasiveness of cancer cells [19] and chemoresistance [20]. The role of HO1 in cancer progression remains controversial
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
