జర్నల్ ఆఫ్ క్యాన్సర్ క్లినికల్ ట్రయల్స్

Osteopontin Expression and its Potential Role as Prognostic Factor and Therapeutic Target for Gastric Cancer

Abstract

F Morano and M Di Bartolomeo

A correlation between the over expression of Osteopontin (OPN), E-cadherin, β-catenin, and cyclooxygenase 2 and poor prognosis has been previously suggested in solid tumors. The aim of the ITACA-S translational study was to further investigate the correlation of these immunohistochemical biomarkers with the outcome of radically resected gastric cancer patient. The immunohistochemistry expression of osteopontin, E-cadherin, β-catenin, and cyclooxygenase 2 was detected in 346 primary gastric tumor tissue samples from patients enrolled in the ITACA-S trial which randomized patients to receive adjuvant chemotherapy with ether 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin or a sequential regimen of infusional 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin plus irinotecan followed by cisplatin and docetaxel. A higher expression of OPN was associated to diffuse histotype, high grade and peritoneal relapse, but not with TNM stage. It was associated with higher risk of recurrence and metastases. Furthermore, OPN overexpression was identify as an independent prognostic factor for both relapse-free and overall survival. The abnormal expression of E-cadherin or b-catenin was correlated with more advanced disease stage and a poor outcome.