[Expression of TWIST in gastric carcinoma and its correlation with clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the level of TWIST expression and its clinical significance in gastric adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Tumor specimens resected from 43 patients with gastric carcinoma were obtained, and 12 normal gastric tissues were used as normal control. The expression level of TWIST was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, The distinctive expression of TWIST in MKN45 and MKN28 gastric cell lines was studied by western blot analyze, and the subcellular localization of TWIST in MKN45 cells was examined by the method of confocal microscopy.

RESULTS

The positive expression rate of TWIST in gastric cancerous tissue was 58.14%, which was significantly higher than that in normal tissue (P < 0.01). The expression rate in the patients with metastasis was also significantly higher than that in those with locally advanced disease (P < 0.01). In MKN45 cells, TWIST was observed locating in cytoplasm and nucleus, predominately at perinuclear area in the cytoplasm. Western blot demonstrated an expected band in both cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts from MKN45 cells. In addition, MKN45, a cell line derived from undierentiated carcinomas cells, expressed high level of TWIST. While MKN28, a cell line derived from moderate dierentiated carcinomas, showed a lower expression of TWIST.

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of TWIST may correlate to tumor invasion in the gastric adenocarcinoma.