[In situ hybridization study on the expression of Kiss-1 and KAI-1 metastasis suppressor genes in gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the mRNA levels of Kiss-1 and KAI-1 metastasis suppressor genes in gastric cancer, and to explore its clinical value.

METHODS

In situ hybridization was used on routinely paraffin-embedded sections of resected specimens of 49 cases with gastric cancer and 20 cases with pericancerous tissue.

RESULTS

The positive rates and the scores of Kiss-1 and KAI-1 mRNA in gastric cancer tissue were significantly lower than those in pericancerous tissue (P<0.01). The positive rates and scores in normal to mild-atypical hyperplasia cases were significantly higher than those in middle to severe-atypical hyperplasia of pericancerous tissue (P<0.05,P<0.01). The positive rates and scores of Kiss-1 and KAI-1 mRNA in patients with infiltrating depth T1T2, without lymph node metastasis, with only first group of lymph node metastasis, and without distant organ metastasis were significantly higher than those in patients with infiltrating depth T3T4, with lymph node metastasis, with second or third group of lymph node metastasis and with distant organ metastasis. A strong positive correlation was found between the expressive scores of Kiss-1 and KAI-1 mRNA in gastric cancer (r=0.53, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The expression of Kiss-1 and/or KAI-1 mRNA may be important biological markers of reflecting invasive and metastatic potential and prognosis in gastric cancer. The assays of Kiss-1 and/or KAI-1 mRNA expression level in benign lesions of stomach may have important clinical value for the protection and early-stage finding of gastric cancer.