Prognostic impact of protein overexpression of the proto-oncogene PIM-1 in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND

PIM kinases are mediators of cytokine signalling pathways in hematopoietic cells and contribute to the progression of certain types of leukemia and solid tumor. Here the prognostic impact of proto-oncogene PIM-1 was analyzed in gastric carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Cancer tissues of 117 patients with potentially curative (R0) resections for gastric cancer were immunohistochemically stained for PIM-1.

RESULTS

Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for PIM-1 in tumor (46%) was higher (p=0.003) compared to that in gastric glands (16%) and foveolae (1%). PIM-1 immunoreactivity in gastric carcinoma correlated with tumor grading (p<0.05) and Laurén category (p<0.02). Overexpression of PIM-1 in gastric glands (p<0.001) was associated with formation of lymph node metastases (p=0.035) and survival (p=0.04). Multivariate analysis of PIM-1 expression in gastric glands confirmed its association with prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Up-regulation of PIM-1 oncogene might be a tumor marker for gastric cancer. The correlation of PIM-1 overexpression in gastric glands with formation of lymph node metastases and survival proposes a prognostic role in gastric cancer.