Pattern-Specific Transcriptomics Identifies as a Predictor of Hematogenous Recurrence of Gastric Cancer.

Hematogenous recurrence is a challenging clinical finding that often leads to fatalities of patients with gastric cancer. Therefore, the identification of specific biomarkers and potential therapeutic target molecules for hematogenous recurrence is required to improve the outcomes of these patients. Here, transcriptome and bioinformatics analyses were conducted to uncover candidate molecules differentially expressed in patients with hematogenous recurrence of gastric cancer. One potential candidate identified was asialoglycoprotein receptor 2 (), and siRNA experiments were conducted to determine the effect of manipulating expression has on cell phenotypes. mRNA expression analysis using quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR was conducted with stage II/III gastric cancer clinical specimens ( = 95). Transcript levels were increased in gastric cancer cells as compared with a control nontumorigenic epithelial cell line. Knockdown of decreased the adhesion and migration potential. Thus, although gastric cancer cell-invasive activity was significantly decreased by knockdown, forced expression of promoted invasive activity. Using a mouse hepatic metastasis model, knockdown of resulted in the absence of hepatic metastasis formation. High expression in primary gastric cancer tissues was an independent predictor of shorter disease-free and overall survival. Finally, patients with high expression were more likely to have a high cumulative rate of hematogenous recurrence but not peritoneal or nodal recurrence. expression is associated with the malignant phenotypes in gastric cancer and represents a specific biomarker of hematogenous recurrences after curative resection for gastric cancer. .