Expression of nm23 H‐1 RNA levels in human gastric cancer tissues. A negative correlation with nodal metastasis

Abstract

Background. Gene expression of nm23 has been investigated in number of tumors, including breast cancer, colon cancer, malignant melanoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Its down‐regulation has been shown to be associated with metastasis or disease progression in some of the tumors. Methods. nm23 H‐1 mRNA levels were investigated in 31 surgically resected specimens of gastric cancer by Northern blot analysis, and association with clinical stages was determined. Results. There was no significant difference in nm23 expression between tumor and matching normal mucosa. There was a significant down‐regulation of the nm23 gene in gastric cancer with serosal invasion (T3 and T4 by the TNM classification) and nodal metastasis (pN1 and pN2), although the association of the down‐regulation with clinically manifest hepatic or peritoneal metastasis was not significant. The tumors with low nm23 expression were associated with a poor prognosis. Conclusions. It was suggested that the down‐regulation of nm23 gene might have a role in metastasis and invasion in gastric cancer, possibly leading to a poor prognosis. Copyright © 1994 American Cancer Society