Different clinical significance of FGFR1-4 expression between diffuse-type and intestinal-type gastric cancer

World J Surg Oncol. 2017 Jan 5;15(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s12957-016-1081-4.

Abstract

Background: Receptor tyrosine kinases promote tumor progression in many cancers, although oncologic activation differs between diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) and intestinal-type gastric cancer (IGC). Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) is one RTK, and we previously reported the clinical significance of FGFR1, 2, 3, and 4 in gastric cancer. The aim of the present study was to reevaluate the clinical significance of FGFR1-4 expression separately in DGC and IGC.

Methods: Tumor samples, including 109 DGCs and 100 IGCs, were obtained from patients who underwent gastrectomy between 2003 and 2007 in our institution. The expression levels of FGFR1, 2, 3, and 4 were measured in the tumors by immunohistochemical analysis.

Results: In DGC, high expression of FGFR1, FGFR2, or FGFR4 was significantly associated with the depth of invasion, lymph-node metastasis, pathological stage, and distant metastasis or recurrent disease. Patients with high expression of FGFR1, FGFR2, or FGFR4 had significantly poorer disease-specific survival (DSS) (p = 0.009, p = 0.001, and p = 0.023, respectively). In IGC, only FGFR4 expression was significantly associated with factors relative to tumor progression and with shorter DSS (p = 0.012).

Conclusion: In conclusion, high FGFR4 expression correlated with tumor progression and survival in both DGC and IGC, whereas high expression of FGFR1 and 2 correlated with tumor progression and survival in only DGC.

Keywords: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1; Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2; Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3; Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4; Gastric cancer; Immunohistochemistry.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gastrectomy
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / surgery
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4 / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / surgery
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • FGFR1 protein, human
  • FGFR2 protein, human
  • FGFR3 protein, human
  • FGFR4 protein, human
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4