The Clinical Significance of Mutation in the p53, DCC and nm23 Genes in Patients with Gastric Carcinoma

Hwang, Sung Hwan; Oh, Sang Hoon; Choi, Young Kil

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Multiple gene abnormalities are observed in gastric carcinogenesis. We analyzed the mutation of p53, DCC and nm23 genes in gastric carcinoma and evaluated their clinical significance.
METHODS
Mutations of p53, DCC and nm23 genes were investigated using PCR-SSCP analysis in 40 patients with gastric carcinoma. The correlations between mutations of these genes and clinicopathologic variables or prognosis were examined.
RESULTS
The incidence of mutation in the p53, DCC and nm23 genes were 47.5%, 30.0% and 25.0%, respectively. The mutation of the p53 genes significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and lymphatic invasion. The mutation of the nm23 genes showed a significant correlation with tumor size, histologic type, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and venous invasion. The mutation of the DCC genes had no correlation with clinicopathologic variables. The overall 5-year survival rate of the patients was 60.0%. The mutation of the p53 and nm23 genes significantly affected on survival of the patients, but mutation of the DCC genes did not. By multivariate analysis, the most significant prognostic factors were lymph node metastasis and depth of invasion. The mutation of p53, DCC, and nm23 genes had little prognostic value in gastric carcinoma.
CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that the mutation of the p53 and nm23 genes may have a role in the tumor invasion and metastasis in gastric carcinoma, possibly leading to a poor prognosis.