Low EBI3 Expression Promotes the Malignant Degree of Gastric Cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To explore expression changes and clinical significance of EBI3 in gastric cancer.

METHODS

Expression of EBI3 in gastric cancer (GC) cell lines, GC tissues, and corresponding adjacent tissues were detected by qRT-PCR, Western blot, or immunohistochemistry. The relationship between the EBI3 expression and clinicopathological features of GC patients was analyzed. Expression of EBI3 in BGC-823 was overexpressed or downregulated, then, the changes of proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity of BGC-823 were observed by MTT, scratch test, Transwell test, and tumorigenesis assay model.

RESULTS

EBI3 was lowly expressed in GC tissues. EBI3 expression in BGC823 was highest than other cell lines. EBI3 expression was significantly associated with TNM stage. GC patients with low expression of EBI3 had a rather poor prognosis than the GC patients with high expression of EBI3. Low EBI3 expression was an independent risk predictor of the prognosis of GC patients. After EBI3 was overexpressed, the viability, migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity abilities of BGC-823 were significantly reduced. Opposite effect was observed after EBI3 expression was downregulated.

CONCLUSION

EBI3 low expression is closely related to the malignant degree of GC and may be a predictive indicator of the prognosis of GC and potential therapeutic targets.